The Chicago Bears pulled off a huge trade, parting ways with former All-Pro pass rusher Khalil Mack. Here is an updated mock draft following the move.
Well, as the time nears for the new NFL league year to begin, we see that Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles isn’t afraid to pull the trigger on an earth-shattering move. He is reportedly trading Khalil Mack, one of the team’s favorite players, to the Los Angeles Chargers.
In return, the Bears receive the Chargers’ 2022 second-round draft pick and their 2023 sixth-round pick. More importantly, they receive big salary cap relief.
While the Bears only receive a $6.15 million cap space increase (and take a $24 million dead money hit), they have a $28.5 million cap savings in 2023 and $26.25 million in 2024. That gives Poles more flexibility when signing free agents. He has more money to spend in future years than he did with Mack.
That means Poles can make a bigger splash with free agents once the new league year begins on March 16th. He can backload some of the deals to spread out the money. That is the main reason for the deal.
The trade changes things a bit for the draft. The Bears have an extra second-round pick, giving them two. That also gives them some flexibility with the picks. Poles can trade one of the second-round picks and move down to acquire more picks.
For this mock, however, we’ll act as if they stayed put. We’ll use the six picks they have now. Additionally, you won’t see an offensive lineman. I know what Poles said about strengthening the offensive line. However, what the line really needs is veteran leadership.
The Bears have two second-year starters on the line who didn’t play a full rookie season. They need a veteran who can lead the line (maybe two). Those guys will come via free agency.
Here now is the latest Chicago Bears mock draft.
Chicago Bears mock draft: Travon Walker, EDGE, Georgia
With Mack out of the picture, the Chicago Bears need to address the spot opposite of Robert Quinn. Trevis Gipson had a very good second season, filling in nicely for Mack. He recorded seven sacks and looked good. Chicago will need a capable backup, though.
The Bears pick up Travon Walker from the CFP National champion Georgia Bulldogs. While Quinn had a record-breaking season in 2021, his days behind him are more than ahead of him. The plan for him is to play a limited number of snaps so he can stay healthy all season. Walker can help with that.
Walker has good size at 6-foot-5, 272 pounds. He is a very good run stopper. He sheds blocks quickly and gets to the ball carrier. Also, he is able to seal the edge and force the runner inside to traffic. His football IQ is excellent and that helps him diagnose the play quickly.
Walker has violent hands. When he hits the blocker in the chest he knocks him off-balance. He transfers power from his hips to his hands quickly and effortlessly.
Walker does need to polish his pass-rushing skills but he has the athleticism to do it. He’ll be a good, dependable backup and eventually will become a starter.
Chicago Bears mock draft: Martin Emerson, Cornerback, Mississippi State
As I mentioned, the Chicago Bears will probably take care of the offensive line situation through free agency. Aside from that spot, the team has a need at cornerback. The Bears’ secondary was pretty bad in 2021. They gave up big chunks of yards at times and in too many games they gave up key completions late that resulted in tough losses.
Here the Bears take Martin Emerson out of Mississippi State. At 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, he has the body to bully wide receivers.
When you have a cornerback that tall, you have a concern with athleticism. You won’t with Emerson. He explodes off the snap and can stop and go. staying with the receiver. He also has a second gear he uses as closing speed. Also, he takes long strides that help him cover more ground and keep up with speedy receivers. It is very difficult to get away from him.
Emerson is a physical player. He’ll harass receivers on their routes often making them alter their moves. Additionally, he is a good tackler who uses great technique to bring the ball carrier down. He is a willing run blocker and gets his nose in on plays. He’ll add the toughness that some feel is missing from the Bears.
Pairing Emerson and Johnson together gives Chicago a young, athletic cornerback duo that could wreak havoc for years to come.
Chicago Bears mock draft: David Bell, Wide Receiver, Purdue
David Bell‘s stock took a dive after he had a slow 40 time. This is one of those cases in which the eye test is better than just plain numbers. Looking at his film, he just looks like he belongs in the NFL. He will have a successful career.
At Purdue, he played in an offense that emphasized the pass. He is a volume catcher and recorded 100+ yards in 11 of his last 17 games.
No, Bell won’t kill the defense with speed. However, that was never his game. He is the type of receiver who keeps the chains moving. If you miss on a deep pass and the running play only gets you two or three yards, you can depend on targeting Bell and him getting you the first down consistently. You need those types of receivers.
This is another position in which the Bears likely find a free agent. They can find a deep threat there and have Bell be their possession receiver.
Bell is an Allen Robinson clone. With Robinson all but gone, the Bears can have his replacement. Like Robinson, Bell can line up on the outside or at the slot. Bell also has no problem going to the teeth of the defense and making a big catch. There were countless times in which he caught the ball in traffic and took a big hit.
Another aspect in which Bell is similar to Robinson is route-running. Neither one has speed but they run excellent routes. They also use double moves to create some space.
Bell may not be flashy but he just gets the job done.
Chicago Bears mock draft: Jelani Woods, Tight End, Virginia
In what is possibly the worst-kept secret in the NFL, the Chicago Bears will not keep tight end Jimmy Graham. The move that many people expected last year will happen this year — the Bears will part ways with him.
Graham had a Hall of Fame career and had an effective 2020 season. He completely dipped in 2021, however, receiving just 23 targets all season. He did catch 14 of them for 167 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Now the Bears need added depth at tight end. They just announced that they slapped the exclusive rights on Jesper Horsted so he’ll be back for another year. He did have a nice rapport with quarterback Justin Fields so he may get more opportunities in 2022.
Cole Kmet enters the season as the number one tight end. He’s been progressing, but fans want to see more from him.
That leaves the Bears to draft Jelani Woods out of Virginia. Woods is a tall tight end at 6-foot-7. He weighs 259 pounds so he has plenty of room to build his frame. Once he goes on a professional team’s conditioning program he could turn into a real beast.
Woods would be a sensational red zone target. Fields can just toss it up and let Woods go after it.
Woods is an improving blocker. Once he builds some of his strength, he will be able to be a demonstrably better blocker.
As it is, he can bully defenders running his routes. He towers over them and does a good job of shielding them away from the ball. He doesn’t create a lot of separation but with his height, he doesn’t always need it. Even when he’s covered, he’s open is something you can say about him.
Woods has the temperament you want. He is very competitive and fires people up on the field. This is something sorely lacking from the Chicago Bears. There were too many times that they gave a lackluster effort. Woods will bring excitement to the game.
Chicago Bears mock draft: Bubba Bolden, Safety, Miami (FL)
The Chicago Bears signed Tashaun Gipson to consecutive one-year contracts. It seems they still aren’t sold on him. We’ll see if Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus saw enough on his film to re-sign him to another one-year deal.
In the meantime, the Bears can draft Miami (FL) safety Bubba Bolden. Bolden started out his college career at USC but then transferred to Miami. After sitting out a year, he started out hot with the Hurricanes, recording 11 tackles, a forced fumble, an interception, and one pass broken up in five games. He suffered an injury, though, and missed the rest of the season.
The next season, Bolden put it together. He had 74 total tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, one interception, one sack, and a team-high four forced fumbles in his first season as a full-time starter.
Bolden is an incredible open-field tackler and closes quickly. He is able to shut down plays before they happen. At 6foot-2, 210 pounds he has good size. He also has speed, running a 4.47-40.
Bolden has the ability to move from the backpedal to transition in coverage. He has loose hips that allow him to move side to side and keep up with receivers.
Bolden is wildly athletic and has the tools to be one of the best safety prospects in this draft. The problem with him is that he hasn’t been consistent enough to be rated higher. Taking him here is a low-risk, high-reward opportunity. If he gets it together, he will definitely be the steal of the draft.
Chicago Bears mock draft: Otito Ogbonnia, Defensive Lineman, UCLA
There will be a lot of changes for the Chicago Bears’ defensive line. They are switching back to a 4-3 scheme, for one. For another, the three guys up front last year might not be back. Akiem Hicks and Bilal Nichols are free agents and Eddie Goldman could be a salary cap cut.
With that being said, the Bears need help in the middle. Goldman struggled against the run. That was too bad because he was such a big part of the Bears’ run defense. In his place, Khyiris Tonga and Angelo Blackson should battle it out for the starting nose tackle job.
For added depth, the Bears could draft Otito Ogbonnia out of UCLA. He has very heavy hands that give him an advantage out of the snap. When he fires his punch, he can create separation and get into the backfield.
Ogbonnia can slide and swim to get through the A-gap quickly. He has the power to have a good bull rush.
Ogbonnia is able to give the Bears flexibility. He can play the defensive tackle on the left, right, or nose. He isn’t ready for a starting job, but that’s not what the Bears need him to do. They need a dependable backup and that’s what he can do.