My last draft of the Chicago Bears Theme Mock echoed from his post-season 2020 press conferences (i.e., Collaboration pushers) running through my mind, and in addition to George McCaskey, Ted Philips, Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy using the word “collaborate” very often, the next most discussed topic that January afternoon was the position of defender.
Bears’ Brass was careful how they talked about all the questions about QB that day, but they made it clear that fixing a defender’s position was a priority in this off-season.
At Pace and Nagy’s early March press conferences, QB was once again a popular topic. “Everything is at stake with regard to the quarterback’s situation,” said Pace in the Zoom presser, “and, honestly, that includes players in our current squad, which includes free agency, commerce, draft and a combination of all of them. We have a plan in place and now it’s about executing it. “
They explored some businesses, but it didn’t work out, they had the not-so-exciting Nick Foles coming back from a year ago, and they made no effort to re-sign Mitch Trubisky, which prompted Andy Dalton to be added as a free agency.
In his free post-agency press conference, Dalton said he was informed that he is the starting quarterback, the team’s Twitter account sent a tweet “Andy Dalton – QB1” that angered the fan base, and Pace and Nagy posted about Dalton being the starter now, which makes Andy the plan … D.
(Okay, I couldn’t resist the rhyme, but Dalton was certainly not plan A, B or C.)
I’m not as depressed about Dalton being the Bears’ QB as some are, but he’s not going to be the long-term answer in Chicago, so this theme simulation was about getting a new quarterback in Windy City.
I used the Fanspeak Premium Mock Draft Simulator this time and for more information on their website, you can Click here.
You can check out my previous theme simulation drafts here (Strict BPA) is here (all o-line)
I targeted the Los Angeles Chargers at 13 for a trade, because giving up a ton to get into the top 5 is something I have no interest in. The Chargers are an ideal trading partner, as they have their QB of the future on Justin Herbert, so getting another rookie in the first round is something they may want.
When I saw only one of the top 5 QBs still on the table, I made my move. Going from 20 to 13 cost me Bears in the second round, but I got a sixth round in the deal, and this is where I ended up.
Round 1 – 13th overall – QB, Mac Jones, Alabama
Truth be told, I would have made that switch to whatever QB was left on the board, since getting one from Jones, Trey Lance or Justin Fields was my goal. But those last two are gone, which left me with National Champion Jones. Dalton said he would have no problem working in a QB room with a newbie, so he can mentor Jones until the newbie is ready.
With regard to Bellows, if the Bears make a move to a QB in the first round, they will try to move it by a song.
Losing my second round was not ideal, but the simulated New York Jets he made me an offer to move up three places in my 19th choice of the third round in exchange for his third and fourth rounds.
Business accepted …
Round 3 – Pick 22 – 86th overall – OT, Spencer K. Brown, Northern Iowa
Brown caused controversy in his professional day with his weird athletics, and with his size (6’8 ”, 311) there is probably an overdraft team. Our main draft analyst, Jacob Infante, has a high score in the 4th round, so 86 would not be such a wide reach. He is raw, he played in a small school and chose to leave the 2020 season, but he has not yet reached his full potential.
Round 4 – Choice 2 – 107th Overall – CB, Kelvin Joseph, Kentucky
With Kyle Fuller released and the free agent hiring Desmond Trufant signing a small 1-year contract, the Bears could use more talent in the corner, and getting fast Joseph (4.3440 on his professional day) in the 4th round would be a good value. He played out and in the corner of the slot for the Wildcats and, although he needs some experience, this would be another high-advantage selection.
This is the part of my theme simulation where I am correcting Pace’s years of neglect to not write a QB. Every time I think of a team that dives twice in QB, my mind goes back to what Washington did in 2012, when it took Robert Griffin III in the first round and Kirk Cousins in the fourth. Injuries hindered RG3’s career, but Washington took a lot of value from Cousins before he signed with the Vikings.
Round 5 – Choose 20 – 164th overall – QB, Sam Ehlinger, Texas
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Photo by Tim Warner / Getty Images
Ehlinger needs to be trained for sure, but as a “special project” working with his college coach, Tom Herman, who is in his first year as an offensive analyst / special projects coach at Bears, he could become a viable backup.
Round 6 – Choice 1 – 185th overall – EDGE, Victor Dimukeje, Duke
The Bears designed a cutting-edge development rusher a year ago at Trevis Gipson, but you can never have enough young people who want to go after the opposing QB. Some that I’ve seen analysts say Dimukeje is more of a power booster at this point in his career, but a few more tools in the toolbox can add nuances to your game.
Round 6 – Choose 20 – 204th Overall – S, Tyree Gillespie, Missouri
The Bears have had some luck in the last few security rounds, so getting a guy to push Deon Bush and DeAndre Houston-Carson is a must. Gillespie is a physical player who is not afraid to go down and take action.
Round 6 – Pick 24 – 208th overall – WR, Marquez Stevenson, Houston
The Bears need to start at some point with the depth of this class, and while I hoped to get one earlier, my board just didn’t fall that way. Stevenson has had 22 touchdowns in the past three years, averaging almost 5 receptions per game, and he has also returned 3 kickoffs to TDs in his university career. Jacob has a grade in the 4th round, so here’s a guy who can be pushed down due to the position being so stackable.
Round 6 – Choose 37 – 221st overall – TE, Kenny Yeboah, Olé Miss
Of course, the Bears have managed to get the bottom of the squad tight in the past two years, but none of them really worked. Athletic Yeboah (6’4 ”, 247) projects himself into the tight end in a U shape with the Bears, but he showed a willingness to mix it up as a blocker. He made 7 receptions, 181 yards and 2 touchdowns against Alabama in 2020.
Round 6 – Pick 44 – 228th overall – CB, Chris Wilcox, BYU
Here is a 6’2 ”and 198 pound corner that likes press coverage, who is not afraid to be physically, and who ran a 4.31 forty on his professional day. Of course it is a project, but with your last choice in the draft, a project is a possibility.
Do you think all of Dalton’s hype is a smoke screen and the Bears are definitely willing to climb the NFL Draft if one of the best QBs starts to fall?