Bears: Top 10 potential draft targets
There are no ifs, ands or buts about it: the Chicago Bears suck. Luckily for us, sucky teams get great draft picks. The Bears are currently projected to get the fourth pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, which puts them in great position to secure a Pro Bowl talent in the first round. This year’s class is a talented one, so it’ll be tough for the Bears to miss on a pick. Here are 10 possible players that they pick at #4.
10) Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson
I’m not the world’s biggest Deshaun Watson fan, but he has been constantly tied to the Bears for months now. That alone puts him on the list.
Watson is a playmaker personified: he can beat you through the air or on the ground. He has remarkable agility and scores touchdowns in bunches. However, he has a huge problem with pass accuracy and throwing interceptions. The latter of those two should be enough to turn off Bears fans, simply because of the many years of suffering through Jay Cutler’s picks. Watson’s not a bad quarterback, but he’s not a first-round pick in my opinion. Still, that’s not going to stop people from linking him with the Bears for a few more months.
9) Jalen Tabor, CB, Florida
Jalen “Teez” Tabor isn’t my number-one cornerback (that goes to his Florida teammate, Quincy Wilson), but it seems like Tabor is more likely to be drafted first. It’s completely understandable; he makes a very good case.
Tabor currently has four interceptions for the Gators this year, so he is a proven ballhawk. At 6’0″ and 201 pounds, he has a solid size to excel in the pros. He is very talented in zone coverage and has the speed to keep up with downfield threats. Since the Bears are projected to have a top-five pick, their choosing Tabor would be a bit of a reach. However, if they win a few throwaway games, he could definitely be in the running.
8) Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU
I’m a firm believer in Jordan Howard: I think he can be a very good running back for years to come. However, Ryan Pace has stuck to a “best player available” approach these past two years. How could one come up with an argument that Leonard Fournette won’t be the best player on the board?
Fournette is the ultimate package at running back. He’s an incredibly powerful back: he uses his strong 6’1″, 230-pound frame to bulldoze would-be tacklers. He’s not just a power back, though. His combination of speed, acceleration and vision make him just as elusive as a much smaller back. It’s unlikely that the Bears will pick him, as running back simply isn’t a need for them. Plus, his ankle troubles could be enough to raise some eyebrows. If they do choose to go with the LSU back though, I won’t blame them.
7) Cam Robinson, OT, Alabama
Let’s face the facts: this year’s offensive tackle class isn’t very good. Cam Robinson, the consensus top guy, isn’t worth more than a mid-first-round pick. However, as mentioned earlier, the Bears could win a few throwaway games and fall down the draft order. In that case, he’d definitely be worth considering.
Robinson is an athletic and powerful tackle who could finally fix Chicago’s woes at left tackle. He is a bruiser of a blocker who also has the finesse necessary to succeed. His footwork and technique are both impressive. He does have a major red flag, though: his off-the-field issues. In May of this year, Robinson was arrested for possession of drugs and a stolen gun. While he’s stayed clean since, it’s certainly something to worry about. Ryan Pace may not want to go in that direction.
6) DeShone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame
From a value stand point, I do not believe in drafting DeShone Kizer at #4. From a need stand point though, the move makes sense. If Mitch Trubisky were to be picked before the Bears are on the clock, Kizer would be the next best QB on the board. Does he deserve to be the fourth pick? No, but his positional value alone could make him get picked early.
Kizer has a lot of raw tools that teams love in quarterbacks. He has arm strength in bundles, and has a combination of size, speed and strength that is incredibly enticing. However, he makes a lot of terrible decisions while throwing the ball. One play he’ll look like a star, but he’ll look like terrible the next. He may be an attractive pick if Trubisky is off the board, but he’s not a guy the Bears should go after that early in the draft.
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5) Jabrill Peppers, S/LB, Michigan
Jabrill Peppers is the living, breathing embodiment of a playmaker. His ability to shine on both offense and defense is very impressive.
Peppers is best suited as a “moneybacker” in the pros: a safety/linebacker hybrid who excels in the box. He is talented in all aspects of being a safety. He can cover well, stop the run and blitz efficiently. Peppers’ athleticism makes him a versatile piece that can be plugged in anywhere on defense. The only problem though, is that he only has one interception in his whole college career. That one interception was a tipped pass that just so happened to come his way. Besides that, Peppers doesn’t really have any flaws.
4) Jamal Adams, S, LSU
When it comes to safeties, it’s tough to find any recent prospect who is as good as Jamal Adams. Fan Rag Sports and Bleacher Report’s Connor Rogers told me that Adams is the best all-around safety to enter the draft since Eric Berry. That’s a claim that I don’t see any flaws in.
Adams is a well-rounded player who excels in coverage and as a tackler. He is a hard-hitting, physical tackler who is impressive at stopping the run. His closing speed when approaching a ballcarrier is flat-out scary. He also excels in coverage, as he has the athleticism, size and physicality to match up with any receiver. His fluid hip movements allow him to change direction with ease. My #4 overall prospect, Adams certainly would be a value get for the Bears.
3) Myles Garrett, EDGE, Texas A&M
The Bears don’t need any more help at the edge rusher position. They already have four players who are capable of playing at a starting level. But when a once-in-a-generation player like Myles Garrett is on the board, you’d be a fool not to consider picking him.
Garrett is the total package as far as edge rushers go. At 6’5″ and 270 pounds, he has the perfect size to play the position. He has strength in bunches, but also has the athleticism of someone 30 pounds smaller than him. When watching his tape, a great first-step, fluid hip movements and excellent acceleration are all apparent. He also puts up the stats to back up his traits: through 33 career games, he has 31 sacks. If Garrett is available when the Bears pick, then they should at least heavily consider picking him.
2) Jonathan Allen, DE, Alabama
Some analysts consider Jonathan Allen to be the next J.J. Watt. The scary part? That’s not even an exaggeration.
Allen is, without a doubt, the best pass-rushing 3-4 end that I’ve ever watched. He is explosive, powerful and knows how to get into the backfield. He has 20.5 sacks in the last two years, which is impressive for someone who doesn’t specialize in pass rushing. These traits, along with his 6’3″, 291-pound frame, make him a force as a run stuffer as well. Although Jabrill Peppers was the only defensive player to be nominated for the Heisman, it can be argued that Allen has been the most dominant defender in all of college football this year. If the Bears draft him, then they’d have a dominant front seven for years to come.
1) Mitch Trubisky, QB, North Carolina
The Chicago Bears have a quarterback problem. If they decide to pick a QB in the first round, then there’s only one logical answer: Mitch Trubisky.
Trubisky is the only quarterback in this class who can go in the top five without it being considered a major reach. He has accuracy, pocket mobility and good decision-making skills in spades. He has solid arm strength and has incredible poise in the pocket. Here’s an interesting stat to put things in perspective: Mitch Trubisky only has four interceptions this year. If you were to double that number, you still wouldn’t get the amount that DeShone Kizer has. Another tidbit: you’d nearly have to quadruple his INT total to match that of Deshaun Watson. If that doesn’t convince you that Trubisky is the real deal, I don’t know what will.
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