Last season the Chicago Bears picked their quarterback of the future in Mitchell Trubisky. As soon as the season was over, they promptly fired the coach of the past, John Fox, and replaced him with Matt Nagy, former offensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs. Nagy wasn’t the most exciting name bandied about during this coaching search, but he ran a good offense in Kansas City. That’s something that hasn’t happened in Chicago in a long time.
Here’s how he and general manager Ryan Pace should fill out the roster via the 2018 NFL Draft.
Round 1, Pick 8: Courtland Sutton, WR, Southern Methodist
2017: 68 catches, 1,085 yards, 12 touchdowns (6-4, 215 pounds)
If every prospective starting receiver stays healthy for the Bears, they should be fine. Here’s the problem with banking on that. Free agent acquisition Allen Robinson is returning from a season-ending knee injury. Former first 2015 round pick Kevin White has never been healthy. He’s played in a total of five NFL games in his career. Last year it was a shoulder injury that cost him his final 15 games. Sutton isn’t my top wideout, but he’s atop plenty of boards. While the Bears have needs all over, they must get at least two starting caliber wide receivers on the field for 16 games. They almost have to draft one here.
Round 2, Pick 39: Isaiah Oliver, CB, Colorado
2017: 26 tackles, two interceptions, 12 passes defended (6-1, 195 pounds)
Thanks to injuries of his own suffered in 2017, Oliver drops out of the first round in my mock. Here, the Bears grab him to shore up their nickle spot and back up Prince Amukamara and Kyle Fuller at corner.
Round 4, Pick 105: Will Richardson, OT, N.C. State
6-6, 304 pounds
With no third round pick, Chicago can’t afford to pass up the best offensive lineman left on their board. From what I can tell, that’s Richardson here. He can be a back up for a couple of years and maybe develop into a starting right tackle down the road.
Round 4, Pick 115: Breeland Speaks, DT, Ole Miss
2017: 61 tackles, eight for a loss, seven sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery (6-3, 285 pounds)
Even with the head coaching change, the Bears kept defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and his 3-4 scheme. Speaks can enter the rotation immediately and brings more of a pass rush threat than presumptive starters Eddie Goldman and Jonathan Bullard.
Round 5, Pick 145: Trevon Young, DE, Louisville
2017: 62 tackles, 12 for a loss, 4.5 sacks, five passes defended, one fumble recovery (6-4, 254 pounds)
Young doesn’t have the speed to contribute much in the pass rush as an outside linebacker. The Bears will likely keep his hand in the dirt and add him to the rotation to push from the outside on passing downs.
Round 6, Pick 181: Hercules Mata’afa, DE, Washington State
2017: 45 tackles, 22.4 for a loss, 10.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries, one fumble recovery (6-2, 252 pounds)
Mata’afa is a lot like Young, but his production was much higher for the Cougars. He’ll be a pass rush specialist but probably play as a down lineman.
Round 7, Pick 224: K.J. Malone, OG, LSU
6-4, 321 pounds
The Bears have solid starters in the interior line, but need to add depth. Malone was a left tackle for LSU and can play all five spots. He’s a smart, tough kid who should contribute immediately as a utility guy. If not, he could always go for his back up plan and become a United States Marshal.
