As egregious as it is for the Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers to skip picking a quarterback, watching the Chicago Bears do the same exact thing come draft day will be even worse. There’s every reason to believe the Bears, sitting at No. 3, just automatically thought the top two QBs would be off the board come the third pick. At which time they’d have their pick of three of the other top non-QB prospects to choose from. As the draft draws closer, it doesn’t look like that’s the case and Chicago will have the chance to change its franchise’s fortunes for the next 15 years by picking DeShaun Watson or Mitchell Trubisky. But they won’t do it either. This is why you’ve sucked for a decade, Bears. Damn.
The Bears at least have an excuse with the recent free agent acquisition of Mike Glennon. They’re trying him out as a starter, but that shouldn’t stop them from drafting Watson or Trubisky, even though it will. They need to address their long term QB situation in this draft, regardless.
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Round 1, Pick 3: Jonathan Allen, DT, Alabama
2016: 69 tackles, 16 for a loss, 10.5 sacks, two passes defended, three fumble recoveries, two defensive touchdowns
Allen projects as a defensive end in Chicago’s 3-4 under Vic Fangio and should be an immediate upgrade on either side. He’s equally adept at playing the run or rushing the passer and is probably the best interior lineman to come into the draft since Aaron Donald. He has that kind of ability. If the Bears can make their quarterback plan work, whatever it turns out to be, Allen should lock down the interior of the defense for the next eight or nine seasons.
Round 2, Pick 36: David Njoku, TE, Miami
2016: 43 catches, 698 yards, eight touchdowns
The Bears traded away one of their best offensive weapons in tight end Martellus Bennett last season. Bennett got a Super Bowl ring out of the deal. Chicago got a gaping hole in its offensive production. Zach Miller is an OK tight end, but Njoku is a complete offensive player. He can block and seal the edge and be a weapon in the passing game, especially in the red zone.
Round 3, Pick 67: Cooper Kupp, WR, Eastern Washington
2016: 117 receptions, 1,700 yards, 17 touchdowns, 14 rushes, 33 yards
The Bears have seemingly added every scrub receiver in free agency to their roster this offseason to try to make up for shedding Alshon Jeffrey. I’m not as high on Kupp as everyone else seems to be. He looks stiff in the hips and while his production is off the charts, I’m not sure how it’ll translate at the NFL level. In the third round, he seems like a solid risk to take and if he pays off he could be a solid No. 2 option on the outside with former first round pick Kevin White.
Round 4, Pick 111: Nathan Peterman, QB, Pittsburgh
2016: 60.5 completion percentage, 2,855 yards, 27 touchdowns, seven interceptions, 72 carries, 286 yards three touchdowns
Peterman is an intriguing prospect to me and though I’m not a guy who normally touts upside, he’s definitely got it. The Bears signed Mark Sanchez to back up Glennon, but he looks like an easy cut with team-favorite Connor Shaw more than capable of holding a clipboard for Fox. Better to use that third quarterback to try to develop a guy like Peterman who has all the skills, but isn’t ready for prime time as a rookie.
Round 4, Pick 117: Nico Siragusa, OG, San Diego State
Siragusa was a third-team All-American in 2016 and not immediately upgrades Chicago’s depth, but will probably steal left guard Josh Sitton’s job before season’s end.
Round 5, Pick 147: Howard Wilson, CB, Houston
2016: 54 tackles, 2.5 for a loss, two fumble recoveries, five interceptions, one defensive touchdown
At 6-1 and 185, there’s a lot to like about Wilson’s production and range. The Bears continually cycle in free agents to play corner, with two – Marcus Cooper and Prince Amukamara brought in this offseason. It’s time to develop a guy to play with Kyle Fuller and Wilson is undervalued in this draft and better than a fifth round pick.
Round 7, Pick 221: Jeremiah Ledbetter, DT, Arkansas
2016: 49 tackles, 7.5 for a loss, 5.5 sacks, two passes defended, one fumble recovery
Starter Mitch Unrein didn’t do a lot other than hold the line on the right side of Chicago’s 3-man defensive line. Ledbetter is an immediate upgrade that adds not only size, but the ability to pressure the backfield.
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