We have a Chicago Bears mock draft after the initial wave of free agency.
The new league year is upon us and the Chicago Bears are busy overhauling the roster. General manager Ryan Poles had the fattest wallet entering free agency and he has used it.
No, Poles did not go crazy signing every big name available. He has been disciplined in his signings. While he signed Tremaine Edmunds to an $18 million/year deal, he has mostly had economical deals. He has not overpaid for players and as a result, he still has money to find more players.
Chicago Bears can load up in the 2023 NFL Draft after a big free agency
Now that the initial wave of free agency has hit, we take a closer look at the draft. There are new players on the roster so the Bears’ needs in the draft changed.
Since our last mock draft Poles made a huge move. He traded the top overall pick to the Carolina Panthers. In return, the Bears received the #9 pick, #61 pick, Carolina’s 2024 first-round and 2025 second-round pick. Also, they received wide receiver D.J. Moore.
We could see Poles handling the draft similarly to free agency. People expect him to get big-name prospects. Poles, however, could have some surprises.
Last year, with the limited picks he had, Poles ended up stockpiling picks in the later rounds. In this mock, he has 13 picks, seven of which are in the first four rounds.
Here now is our latest Chicago Bears mock draft after this initial wave of free agency.
Poles continues to pull the trigger on deals. He trades the ninth pick and not only picks up an additional second-round pick but also another 2024 first-round pick.
With the trade, the Bears now have three first-round picks. Poles has said on a number of occasions that he wants to build a consistent contender. Spending wisely and amassing draft picks is a great way of doing that. He could either pick up some quality players in 2024 or could make some more trades to build an even stronger roster.
With the 19th pick, the Bears get edge rusher Lukas Van Ness. Van Ness gives the Bears help at getting after the quarterback. The Bears ranked last in sacks and were awful at putting pressure on quarterbacks in 2022. They constantly allowed opposing quarterbacks to sit in the pocket for too long. By doing that, the wide receivers could eventually get open.
Van Ness measures 6-foot-5 and weighs 275 pounds. Additionally, his arms are more than 34 inches long. In addition to his size and length, he also has a lot of strength. He can give defensive coordinator Alan Williams some options by moving inside on some plays because of his strength.
Van Ness’ athleticism is off the charts as well. He is explosive off the snap and has great footwork. With his explosiveness and speed, he is able to produce a lot of force that shocks would-be blockers.
Van Ness has the length, strength, and speed to be an elite pass rusher. This is exactly what the Bears need. With the free agent signings, the linebackers unit is vastly improved. Over the past couple of years, the Bears have solidified the secondary. Now, with Van Ness, they can put more pressure on the quarterback, and that could result in not just sacks but turnovers as well.
I have been high on Cody Mauch since the mock draft season started. Mauch has played as a tackle but could also move to guard.
With Poles not signing one of the top right tackles available in free agency, there could be a scenario in which the Chicago Bears coaching staff moves Jenkins over to right tackle. They could also end up moving Cody Whitehair back to center (or cut or trade him) and have Mauch play guard.
Mauch looks like a hockey player on the field and he plays like one. He is rugged and physical. These are attributes missing from Chicago’s offensive line mentality for a while.
Mauch has good strength and looks to obliterate his opponent. He has the strength to sustain his blocks on the line or at the second level. At the snap, he has a good pop in his punch to slow down defenders. He does a good job at blowing people back during run blocking.
Being a former tight end means that Mauch is very athletic. His footwork is excellent and he could mirror defenders.
Mauch’s temperament and physicality add toughness to the Chicago Bears offensive line. His attitude is contagious and could help transform the unit’s play.
The Chicago Bears defensive front got gashed up the middle a lot last season. Teams ran right up the middle and the interior part of the line didn’t do anything to help the outside part of the unit. This was a reason why the pass rush didn’t get to the quarterback.
Poles addressed that by signing Andrew Billings. He could add some help there with Calijah Kancey.
At 6-foot-1, 281 pounds, Kancey is a little undersized. However, he makes up for that with his elite strength and crazy athleticism. He has an explosive first step that is better than some wide receivers.
Kancey had a breakout season in 2021, helping the Pitt Panthers win the ACC. He recorded 33 tackles, 13 for loss, and 7 sacks. Showing that he wasn’t a one-hit wonder, he followed that up with 31 tackles, 14.5 for loss, and 7.5 sacks. He earned first-team All-ACC and third-team All-American. That made him a popular option among scouts.
Watching his explosiveness on film is incredible. He was usually the first one with his hand on the ball carrier. It seems as if he suddenly appears in the opponent’s backfield before the lineman even makes a move.
Additionally, Kancey has great footwork and that is evident by his lateral movement. To be able to explode through the line and then move side-to-side quickly and effectively is a sight to behold.
A lot of teams will be scared away by Kancey’s size. However, his size allows him to create leverage. Also, he is able to get skinny and get through the line.
Whatever team picks Kancey will be fortunate and have a steal. He has all the tools to be a successful player in the NFL.
Owen Pappoe, LB, Auburn
Poles did a great job of overhauling the linebackers unit. In addition to adding Edmunds, he also added T.J. Edwards, another one of the top linebackers in the league and an integral member of the Philadelphia Eagles’ elite defense.
Poles continues to improve the unit by adding Owen Pappoe.
With Edmunds and Edwards, the Bears have two very athletic linebackers who could handle the outside linebacker spots (Edmunds weakside and Edwards strong side).
That would leave the second-year man Jack Sanborn, who became a fan favorite before an injury cut down his season, to battle for the middle with Pappoe. The loser gives the Bears an excellent backup.
Pappoe was the leader of the Auburn defense and does a great job of communicating on-field. Playing from the middle, he has the range to go sideline-to-sideline. Additionally, he has the speed to chase down the ball carrier from the backside.
Pappoe has long arms which help him shed blockers. He relies more on his quickness and athleticism than on his strength to get past linemen. He has the talent to be a playmaker and will make Bears fans happy.
Poles did a good job of finding some help for the tight ends unit. Cole Kmet was the only one who did anything in 2022. Now he has Robert Tonyan.
Still, the Bears need more help. Tonyan is signed for just one season so we have to see what happens after that. By picking Dalton Kincaid, he has some help for several seasons to come.
At 6-foot-4, 246 pounds Kincaid has the size you want in a tight end. He gives quarterback Justin Fields another big target. With the receivers Fields already has, adding Kincaid will make his life a lot easier.
What really shows up when you see Kincaid is how well of a receiver he is. His hands measure in at over 10 inches. He is sure-handed and does a great job of snatching the ball at its highest level. His concentration is excellent and has great body control. That helps him win on contested catches. Also, he has an extensive route tree and is dangerous at all levels on the field.
While he needs some more development in his blocking, he shows that he is a willing blocker. He is competitive and wants to hit people. Once he gets better that will be a big part of his game.
Adding Kincaid to the team gives the tight ends room a big boost. It means the Chicago Bears will have dependable pass-catching tight ends on the field at all times. That makes Fields a more dangerous passer.
Over the past several years, the Chicago Bears did a good job of improving the secondary, most notably the cornerback spot. They added Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon as starters.
Now they add Myles Brooks to add more help.
Brooks is an under-the-radar player. He spent his first three seasons at Stephen F. Austin. He then transferred to Louisiana Tech, where he had a breakout season and scouts started talking about him.
Despite being an unknown among many fans, Brooks will shock people with his play. He will do a good job when opposing quarterbacks try to target him instead of the other known cornerbacks.
In three years at SFA, Brooks had 6 interceptions and 14 pass deflections. That earned him a spot at Louisiana Tech. There he recorded 3 interceptions and 8 pass deflections. That earned him second-team All-Conference at Conference USA.
At 6-foot-1, 201 pounds Brooks has the length you want in a cornerback. He has high energy and he does a great job of keeping up with speedy receivers.
Additionally, Brooks plays the ball like a wide receiver. He tracks the ball well and does a great job of going after the ball at its highest point.
A lot of teams will use his lack of competition against Brooks despite his impressive season at the FBS level. However, in the fourth round, he could be a steal.
Poles did a good job of adding targets for Fields. He got him Moore to go with Darnell Mooney and Chase Claypool. Also, he added Tonyan. Fields has more options now.
Poles gives him more help with Dontayvion Wicks.
Some people might be upset that I don’t have the Bears getting Fields his former teammate at Ohio State, Jaxon Smith-Njigba. By adding the targets he did via free agency, however, the need for a wide receiver that early in the draft is no longer necessary.
Poles finds another good target for Fields in Round 4. Wicks is a big-play threat on nearly every play. In 2021, he gained 20 or more yards on nearly half of his catches. In fact, he averaged 21.1 yards per catch and amassed 1,203 receiving yards.
He has the size at 6-foot-1, 206 pounds. He is athletic and has great body control. He is a threat at any point in the field. In addition to the deep play, he can catch a shallow pass and take it for a big gain or make the play to move the chains.
Wicks is a quarterback’s good friend. His body control helps him make catches on imprecise throws.
Wicks might not be an elite receiver but he could be an integral part of the offense. He can make plays and with him the wide receivers unit could be a very tough one.
Just because Poles and the Chicago Bears signed a free-agent quarterback doesn’t mean he is done finding another one. He finds a good one in Jaren Hall from BYU.
With Walker in the fold as FIelds’ backup, Poles can draft Jaren Hall to be a developmental quarterback. He is also a dual-threat quarterback who doesn’t need an offensive overhaul for him to run it.
Hall was a two-sport athlete at BYU, playing baseball as well as football. That adds to his athleticism.
Hall was a backup for Zach Wilson before Wilson departed for the 2021 draft. In the two seasons since, he completed 65 percent of his passes for 5,754 yards, 58 total touchdowns, and just 11 interceptions.
Hall is a very good passer who can make any throw and throws well on the run. He not only throws with power from the pocket but also has a great touch on the deep throw. He throws the ball where the receiver can make the catch. His receivers love catching his throws.
Hall has a good feel for the rush. He can sense it and move to extend the play. In addition, if he cannot find the open receiver he can tuck it and make a big gain with his legs.
With his baseball experience, Hall can throw the ball from different angles. This is similar to another quarterback with baseball experience, Patrick Mahomes. Hall doesn’t have the same talent, of course, but he can make the same throws at different angles.
Hall’s mechanics are very good. He doesn’t have any kinks in his throwing motion. Also, he is able to make quick reads. That helps if a play breaks down.
Hall has the ability to be a pretty good quarterback in the NFL. He still needs some seasoning, though. With Fields and Walker ahead of him, he can get that seasoning without any pressure on him. He could be a very good pickup.
As mentioned earlier, Poles and the Chicago Bears have done a good job of improving the secondary. That includes the safety spot.
Poles drafted Jaquan Brisker with one of his two second-round picks last year. Brisker looked like a veteran from the moment he stepped on the field. With his stellar play, Eddie Jackson was able to return to his All-Pro form before an injury cut short his season.
Now Poles can add some help to the unit with Rashad Torrence II.
Torrence played a number of positions with the Gators. However, he excelled at being the deep safety. In 2022, he had a team-high 84 tackles, a pass defended, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.
From the deep safety spot, Torrence quickly diagnoses a play and gets to the action. On run plays, he gets to the ball carrier quickly and uses great tackling technique to get him down.
While Torrence doesn’t have a thick body, he is a willing tackler and is physical. Against the pass, he does a good job of tracking the ball and disrupting the pass. Additionally, he uses the proper angles to get to the ball carrier.
Torrence would be a good pickup to add quality depth to the safety position.
The Chicago Bears continue to add to the defensive line by adding Zacch Pickens.
Poles has emphasized on a number of occasions how he wants to have athletic players in all areas, including some spots you might not think to require it.
After already drafting an athletic defensive tackle earlier, Poles does it again with Zacch Pickens.
Pickens originally played fullback in addition to defensive tackle. That gives him a quickness you don’t normally see in a tackle. He is also explosive and can get past linemen that way.
Pickens has good footwork and strong hands. He is quickly able to shed blockers and get to the ball carrier. Additionally, he has a high football IQ. He is able to recognize and counter blocking schemes quickly.
Pickens is 6-foot-4 and weighs 291 pounds. Also, he has an arm length of nearly 35 inches. He is able to keep blockers at bay with his arms and will bat a lot of passes with that length.
Adding Pickens to the defensive line gives the unit more depth. The line struggled last season and would now improve. Having multiple young, athletic linemen to keep pounding and making offensive linemen expend more energy helps to wear them down. Furthermore, having defensive tackles receive attention helps the pass rush. Pickens could be a productive asset for the Chicago Bears.
Poles adds more help for Fields by selecting Matt Landers. In addition to having an athletic wide receiver, he adds one with speed. Landers recorded a 4.37-40 at the NFL Combine. Moreover, he has a good size at 6-foot-4, 200 pounds.
Landers uses his long strides to build up speed. That makes him a threat of a big play. In the past two seasons, he averaged 21.1 yards per reception.
One of the problems that Chicago Bears receivers had last season was their inability to create separation on their routes. As a result, Fields did not have a lot of confidence to make throws and feel that his receivers would make plays. Landers has very good footwork and body control that gives him the ability to create separation.
Additionally, Landers won’t let defenders bully him. On the outside release, he does a good job of using his offhand to battle the cornerback without drawing a penalty.
Landers does a good job of tracking the ball and getting in position to make the catch. In addition, he has the leaping ability to just outjump the defender on a contested throw.
Landers can be a great deep threat. Also, he can utilize his speed to make big plays on special teams. He could be a steal at this spot.
Having too many offensive linemen is never a bad thing. The Chicago Bears want to improve the unit as much as possible. Additionally, there have been plenty of gems that came from the seventh round.
Poles takes Connor Galvin with this pick. Galvin is a developmental swing tackle. With the number of offensive linemen already on the roster, Connor can sit and develop without having to take too many impactful snaps.
Galvin is an athletic big man. He is 6-foot-7 and weighs 295 pounds. He is athletic for his size. He has quick feet and a good feel for angles. He could be a good reserve lineman by playing multiple positions along the line.
At Baylor, they ran a lot of pass sets. Because of that, we have a better idea of Galvin’s pass-blocking ability. In addition, he has plenty of experience, having started 50 games. He has a high football IQ and recognizes what pass rushers are doing and when to pass off defenders to the interior.
If given a chance, Galvin can develop into a dependable lineman. With a plethora of linemen, he can do that in Chicago.
Poles goes after additional linebacker help here. He struck gold in the undrafted rookie market last year with Sanborn. Perhaps he finds another nugget here in the seventh round.
Jones is an attacking, high-motor linebacker. He originally came to Syracuse as a 4-3 defensive end and you notice that with his attacking style.
Jones is 6-foot-1 and weighs 223 pounds. However, he has room to pile on more weight on his frame. He is able to play either inside or outside.
Jones is able to quickly recognize and react to a play. On passes, he has the speed and loose hips to be able to keep up with running backs or tight ends. Against the run, he is able to read and react. He has good closing speed. When he gets to the ball carrier he is a good tackler.
In Jones, the Bears could get a player with a chip on his shoulder. He failed to receive an invitation to the Combine in Indianapolis. He said all the right things about it probably being a blessing in disguise.
However, for a player who had a lot of success in college, not being invited to an event that has the best prospects in the draft, it had to hurt. If he gets picked this low in the draft we can expect Jones to do everything he could to prove his doubters wrong.