Athletic published a new 2021 mock draft of the NFL on Tuesday and offered a unique insight into what the Chicago Bears can do in the first round of the April draft.
In 20th overall position, Bears beat writer Adam Jahns and Chicago chose Christian Darrisaw for the Virginia Tech offensive, which would qualify as a major theft on my board. I currently ranked Darrisaw as one of the top 10 players, so hitting him with 20th choice is an extremely good value in a position of great need for the Bears towards 2021.
Accepting a quarterback was definitely a consideration, but a $ 10 million investment was also made in Andy Dalton. He is the full-back defender for Bears in 2021, or so he was told during his recruitment for the free agency. Anyway, it is better not to force the choice, although the Bears have a history of doing so. This is a great year for offensive tackles, and the Bears have to be sure to get one. The cornerback is on the table after Kyle Fuller’s departure, but the Bears are clearly shifting resources from defense to attack. Darrisaw’s selection is part of that process. Charles Leno Jr. and Germain Ifedi become tackers until Darrisaw is ready.
The most interesting aspect of this simulated draft is what the Bears do next. According to Jahns, Chicago could trade back to the first round – in this case, to choose No. 30 – for Alabama quarterback Mac Jones, in case he experiences a drop on draft day, as this projection indicates.
The Bears could be patient and let their QB quest in the draft reach the second round. Jones and Kellen Mond from Texas A&M may be available. Then again, the wait to choose No. 52 can take a long time. GM Ryan Pace doesn’t like to do that. Ironically, this exchange is made with the team that has just hired Mitch Trubisky to be his backup. But it does not matter. Bills can have Trubisky. The Bears are in the 2021 season and beyond. Jones is worth the blow at the end of the first round. Dalton also said he would have no problem taking on the role of mentor. When summoning Jones, Pace and coach Matt Nagy can also extend their stays in Chicago. Young defenders always change situations and expectations.
While it is a dream scenario for the Bears to make a blue-chip left tackle and a quality quarterback perspective in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft, it just isn’t going to happen. It is highly unlikely that Jones will pass the Patriots in 15th overall, and there are many reports suggesting that the 49ers are very interested in Jones in 12th.
He’s not reaching number 30.
Still, this is what simulated drafts are for; creating scenarios in which we could not think otherwise. The Bears may not trade back in Round 1 for Jones because he will be gone a long time, but that doesn’t mean they won’t value another quarterback enough to try to skip a few teams at the top of Round 2 to land their guy.
The next level of quarterback candidates is headed by Kyle Trask, from Florida, and Davis Mills, from Stanford. Neither has a score in the first round, but both may be in play around the middle of Day 2. There is a good chance that both will be on the board when the Bears choose in the second round, making the equal exchange less likely.
But remember: it’s GM Ryan Pace we’re talking about. When it comes to defenders, anything is possible.