We are now just over a month away from the NFL Draft. There have been weeks of prognostication, debate, conversations, and more debates over what the Bears should do with the first overall choice. The conclusion appears to be crystal clear now, following reports that Bears brass spent many evenings with Caleb Williams getting to know the man behind the athlete. All that remains is for the Bears to acquire Williams’ medical information during their final meeting at Halas Hall for the private team visit.
However, the Bears will have numerous more choices to make after making their official selection on April 25. In addition to quarterback, they will need to address numerous other position groupings, such as defensive end. The squad did just that in our newest mock draft.
As always, this mock draft is not intended to forecast what the Bears will do when they return to the War Room next offseason. That is impossible. It is not intended to be a recommendation for what the Bears should do. This mock draft is intended to be a fun way to discuss wild ideas, go into some of the most intriguing college prospects this season, and see how those guys would fit in Chicago.
No. 1: Caleb Williams – Quarterback, USC
The Bears dealt Justin Fields to the Steelers, ensuring that they would choose a rookie quarterback next month. Barring any major surprises, Williams will be the pick. His college tape is the best it gets.
Click here for our complete coverage of the quarterback phenomenon.
TRADE! BEARS SEND 9 PICKS TO RAIDERS IN EXCHANGE FOR 13, 77, and 148 PICKS.
By the time the Bears get back on the clock, the Big Three at wide receiver–Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, and Rome Odunze–are all gone. Joe Alt, a highly regarded left tackle, is also included. So GM Ryan Poles sends his pick to the Raiders, who choose quarterback J.J. McCarthy. Poles expands his draft stockpile with an extra third- and fifth-round selection.
No. 13: Jared Verse – Edge, Florida State
Verse was not the most consistent pass rusher this year (4.5 sacks in the first 11 games, 4.5 sacks in the last two), but he beat his guy at a high rate throughout the season (21.8% pass rush win rate). Verse also demonstrated a strong combination of speed and power during the NFL Combine. His 4.58-second 40-yard sprint was fourth among all defensive ends. His 7.31-second three-cone drill placed third. Verse led all defensive ends with 31 bench press reps. Those characteristics should be even more effective when lined up opposite Montez Sweat on the defensive line.
No. 75: T’VONDRE SWEAT DEFENSIVE TACKLE – TEXAS
What’s better than having one Sweat rush the pass rusher? Two people working side by side. There is no evidence that T’Vondre and Montez are connected, but they may be best friends rushing the quarterback next to one another. T’Vondre is massive and uses his strength to thwart opposition ball carriers. He weighed in at 6’4″ and 366 pounds at the Combine, but he’s more than simply a big run stuffer. His 25.3% pass rush victory percentage ranked eighth among defensive tackles with at least 150 rush snaps. His six batted balls were tied for second.
It may be absurd for the Bears to add another defensive lineman after spending two top-75 picks on Gervon Dexter and Zacch Pickens, but with Justin Jones in Arizona, the Bears need to restock on the interior of their line.
No. 77: Mason McCormick – Guard – South Dakota State.
The Bears improved their interior by signing center Coleman Shelton and trading for reserve player Ryan Bates, but they may still benefit from extra depth given Teven Jenkins’ and Nate Davis’ injury histories. McCormick, on the other hand, is as tough as they come, having started 57 straight games for the Jackrabbits. He’s also quite athletic, which the Bears value in their offensive linemen. His unofficial RAS score of 9.96 ranks ninth among 1,445 guards scored since 1987. McCormick was also a leader for the two-time FCS winners, serving as captain in 2021, 2022, and 2023. According to PFF, he has only surrendered three sacks, two hits, and 17 hurries since 2020. These are incredible numbers.
No. 122: Mohammed Kamara – Edge, Colorado State.
Kamara offers the Bears another tremendously productive edge rusher to try to build against Sweat. Since 2021, Kamara has recorded 29 sacks, 42.5 TFL, five forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. According to PFF, he was also a pressure machine, finishing sixth in 2022 with 53 pressures and second last season with 64. Kamara received the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year title last season.
Kamara was advised that most teams see him as a fit for a 3-4 defense, so he adjusted elements of his Pro Day to demonstrate that he can play effectively in a 4-3 system. The Bears, a 4-3 team, were allegedly in attendance at the Pro Day. We’ll see if they were impressed by Kamara’s performance.
No. 148: Isaiah Williams, Wide Receiver – Illinois
DJ Moore and Keenan Allen are unquestionably the Bears’ WR1A and WR1B moving forward, but the WR3 position should remain open. There is plenty of room on the roster for the squad to recruit another young player. Williams lacks extraordinary athleticism and stature, but he has good hands, concentration, and the ability to adapt to a pass in mid-air to make a catch. He can line up anywhere on the field and is as good on the screen, in the middle of the field, or running deep.
Williams’ best days as a wide receiver could still be ahead of him. He joined the Fighting Illini as a quarterback before debuting as a wide receiver in the team’s 2019 bowl game. He finally made the permanent switch to WR in 2021. From that point on, he caught 211 receptions for 2,295 yards and 14 touchdowns.
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