Updated WF Mock Draft

[adam]

14. Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State

Jay Cutler looked like a new man earlier in the year, but he has regressed recently. Part of the blame has to be on the offensive line, which features two struggling tackles. Kyle Long is out of place and should be used at guard, while Charles Leno is just a swing tackle, at best.

 

44. Austin Johnson, DT, Penn State

The Bears need as much defensive help as possible as they continue to transition into their new 3-4 scheme. The defensive line is comprised of mediocre players, at best, so this is an area the front office will have to upgrade this offseason.

 

75. Anthony Zettel, DE/DT, Penn State

A second defensive lineman in three rounds makes sense for the Bears, who continue to transition into their new 3-4 defense.

 

106. Devontae Booker, RB, Utah

The Bears are grooming Jeremy Langford to be their starting running back of the future. Matt Forte will likely leave in free agency this offseason, so a backup will be needed behind Langford.

 

http://www.walterfootball.com/draft2016.php

 

I don't mind going OL, then DL, but Johnson is the only guy relatively close to his current draft ranking. I don't see Conklin going in the top half of the first. 2x Penn State Lineman? Then top it off with a RB in the 4th? I just don't see it. With the devaluation of the position, and having 2x young RB's, I don't think we can afford to go RB there.

 

For the first 4 rounds, we need to address OL, DL, LB, and DB in no particular order unless there is a ridiculous value there.

[AZ54]

You are correct and Walter Football is wrong. No ILB in the top 4 picks shows a glaring lack of understanding of what our defense was missing this season. Where is CB in that list of 1st four picks? We have no clue where we will spend our FA money but even if we sign an ILB and CB before the draft we will likely be still draft one of each early to add youth and depth.

 

Although I like him I don't see Conklin worthy of a top 15 pick. I prefer any of the top 3 ILB (pending word on Jaylon Smith's knee injury) or even DeForest Buckner here who has proven he can be dominate in the run game. Then go elsewhere in the draft (Oline, CB, ILB/Dline whatever we didn't take in Rd 1) but no need to double up on Dline. Guys like Unrein, Sutton, and Jenkins have been productive enough to find a 3rd wheel in there. It's more likely the 3rd wheel come from the FA DT/DE we will sign. We still have Ego too although he was injured so early in the season only the coaches might know if he's worth counting on.

[ASHKUM BEAR]

You are correct and Walter Football is wrong. No ILB in the top 4 picks shows a glaring lack of understanding of what our defense was missing this season. Where is CB in that list of 1st four picks? We have no clue where we will spend our FA money but even if we sign an ILB and CB before the draft we will likely be still draft one of each early to add youth and depth.

 

Although I like him I don't see Conklin worthy of a top 15 pick. I prefer any of the top 3 ILB (pending word on Jaylon Smith's knee injury) or even DeForest Buckner here who has proven he can be dominate in the run game. Then go elsewhere in the draft (Oline, CB, ILB/Dline whatever we didn't take in Rd 1) but no need to double up on Dline. Guys like Unrein, Sutton, and Jenkins have been productive enough to find a 3rd wheel in there. It's more likely the 3rd wheel come from the FA DT/DE we will sign. We still have Ego too although he was injured so early in the season only the coaches might know if he's worth counting on.

With the announcement from Long saying he will continue at OT and we go off that, I can see them passing on Conklin/Taylor RD1 who would most likely be RTs. Leno Jr should get another crack at LT.

1-Reggie Ragland ILB with the thought of trading down a few spots to a team moving up for QB. STL trades 18, their 3rd and 4th for our 12th.

2-Cordrea Tankersly CB-Big CB that gets targeted more so since McKenzie gets avoided.

3-OJ Howard TE

3-Sebastian Tretolia OG

4-Karl Joeseph SS

4-Chris Jones DT

 

[jason]

14. Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State

Jay Cutler looked like a new man earlier in the year, but he has regressed recently. Part of the blame has to be on the offensive line, which features two struggling tackles. Kyle Long is out of place and should be used at guard, while Charles Leno is just a swing tackle, at best.

 

44. Austin Johnson, DT, Penn State

The Bears need as much defensive help as possible as they continue to transition into their new 3-4 scheme. The defensive line is comprised of mediocre players, at best, so this is an area the front office will have to upgrade this offseason.

 

75. Anthony Zettel, DE/DT, Penn State

A second defensive lineman in three rounds makes sense for the Bears, who continue to transition into their new 3-4 defense.

 

106. Devontae Booker, RB, Utah

The Bears are grooming Jeremy Langford to be their starting running back of the future. Matt Forte will likely leave in free agency this offseason, so a backup will be needed behind Langford.

 

http://www.walterfootball.com/draft2016.php

 

I don't mind going OL, then DL, but Johnson is the only guy relatively close to his current draft ranking. I don't see Conklin going in the top half of the first. 2x Penn State Lineman? Then top it off with a RB in the 4th? I just don't see it. With the devaluation of the position, and having 2x young RB's, I don't think we can afford to go RB there.

 

For the first 4 rounds, we need to address OL, DL, LB, and DB in no particular order unless there is a ridiculous value there.

 

 

OH HELL NO. Was that draft done with a dart board?!

 

The link I have - updated draft this AM - has the Bears going:

1. Jaylon Smith, ILB, Notre Dame (Robert Nkemdiche still available)

2. Austin Johnson, DT, Penn State

3. Anthony Zettel, DE/DT, Penn State

4. Devontae Booker, RB, Utah

 

I like that a little better because it's a full commitment to defense, and Jaylon Smith would be a great pick for us. I even like the idea of college-to-pro continuity, because it's one of the reasons I like Oregon linemen for the Bears' future. What I do not like, however, is back to back Penn State defensive linemen, especially when they are currently getting thumped up front by Georgia in their bowl game.

 

Given the Walter football picks, there are several more palatable combinations. Here is the first one I tried:

1. Jaylon Smith, ILB, Notre Dame

2. Jayron Kearse, S, Clemson

3. Sebastian Tretola, G, Arkansas (Cordrea Tankersley, CB, Clemson also available)

4. Tyler Johnstone, OT, Oregon (Oregon bookends for the future)

 

Way better than the original Walter draft, in my opinion.

[jason]

With the announcement from Long saying he will continue at OT and we go off that, I can see them passing on Conklin/Taylor RD1 who would most likely be RTs. Leno Jr should get another crack at LT.

1-Reggie Ragland ILB with the thought of trading down a few spots to a team moving up for QB. STL trades 18, their 3rd and 4th for our 12th.

2-Cordrea Tankersly CB-Big CB that gets targeted more so since McKenzie gets avoided.

3-OJ Howard TE

3-Sebastian Tretolia OG

4-Karl Joeseph SS

4-Chris Jones DT

 

One quick thought: You do NOT want OJ Howard on the Bears. Everyone in Alabama hates him for the most part. His hands are not great. His route running is questionable. His work ethic is also up for debate. Absolutely not.

[ASHKUM BEAR]

One quick thought: You do NOT want OJ Howard on the Bears. Everyone in Alabama hates him for the most part. His hands are not great. His route running is questionable. His work ethic is also up for debate. Absolutely not.

Haven't heard that yet. His name was a late rd first or 2nd rd earlier. That is probably why he is now 3rd-4th rd and dropping.

[scs787]

I love Conklin, and think he should absolutely be in the discussion for a top 15 pick.....just not to the Bears. Fromwhat I've gathered, the Bears run a lot of zone blocking and you want athletic OTs guys out there for it. Conklin is a straight up mauler who will have a great NFL career, just probably not in Chicago.

 

Like others have said, I don't think we need to go back to back on the DL. Grab one early, then you have him, Goldman, Ego, Sutton, and then possibly Jenkins and/or Unrien brought back as well. Ego got hurt early on, but assuming he comes back healthy, I think he's a starter.

 

They're forgetting about Carey here with that 4th rounder. I think Carey has shown to be a capable backup, and he and Langford would be a nice cheap combo.

 

No ILB is obviously a mistake. I love mock draft season, but I really think they should be accompanied by free agent predictions. I'll throw out a mock offseaon here in a bit.

[adam]

OH HELL NO. Was that draft done with a dart board?!

 

The link I have - updated draft this AM - has the Bears going:

1. Jaylon Smith, ILB, Notre Dame (Robert Nkemdiche still available)

2. Austin Johnson, DT, Penn State

3. Anthony Zettel, DE/DT, Penn State

4. Devontae Booker, RB, Utah

 

I like that a little better because it's a full commitment to defense, and Jaylon Smith would be a great pick for us. I even like the idea of college-to-pro continuity, because it's one of the reasons I like Oregon linemen for the Bears' future. What I do not like, however, is back to back Penn State defensive linemen, especially when they are currently getting thumped up front by Georgia in their bowl game.

 

Given the Walter football picks, there are several more palatable combinations. Here is the first one I tried:

1. Jaylon Smith, ILB, Notre Dame

2. Jayron Kearse, S, Clemson

3. Sebastian Tretola, G, Arkansas (Cordrea Tankersley, CB, Clemson also available)

4. Tyler Johnstone, OT, Oregon (Oregon bookends for the future)

 

Way better than the original Walter draft, in my opinion.

Didn't Smith get injured in the bowl game? Hard to pick him top 15 if he misses the combine. We can't have an injury risk/concern with another first rounder.

[Mongo3451]

OH HELL NO. Was that draft done with a dart board?!

 

The link I have - updated draft this AM - has the Bears going:

1. Jaylon Smith, ILB, Notre Dame (Robert Nkemdiche still available)

Nkemdiche is the one player I would trade up for in this draft. IMO - best player in the draft, along with Bosa...

[ASHKUM BEAR]

Nkemdiche is the one player I would trade up for in this draft. IMO - best player in the draft, along with Bosa...

I am not sure you will have to trade up for him. He has plenty of yellow to red flags that teams may not want to risk. He may get the Randy Gregory treatment. Which in a way, that is one thing that can help shape the players to be better people or who they choose to be associated with.

[dawhizz]

I'm currently partial to Ragland or Smith for our first round pick, mostly because I think there is a big drop off at ILB after that and we need a quality leader and producer at ILB.

 

[AZ54]

I am not sure you will have to trade up for him. He has plenty of yellow to red flags that teams may not want to risk. He may get the Randy Gregory treatment. Which in a way, that is one thing that can help shape the players to be better people or who they choose to be associated with.

 

He is a phenomenal athlete but he's also a different guy, somewhat in the Martellus Bennett mold but maybe worse, according to what I've read.

[lemonej]

The 4 choices I would like are:

 

Ragland ILB

Shon Cleman OT

Von Bell SS

Dak Prescott QB

[ASHKUM BEAR]

One quick thought: You do NOT want OJ Howard on the Bears. Everyone in Alabama hates him for the most part. His hands are not great. His route running is questionable. His work ethic is also up for debate. Absolutely not.

How about Howard now? He exposed Clemsons coverage, showed speed and good hands. It was one game, but he earned some extra money tonight.

[jason]

How about Howard now? He exposed Clemsons coverage, showed speed and good hands. It was one game, but he earned some extra money tonight.

 

Trust me, the AL fans are exploding with WTF right now. Nobody expected that. I don't know if he exposed Clemson's coverage as much as he did something he hasn't done all year. Throwing to him like that is like running a trick play or something. And that screen he took for a big gain was mostly because the contain defender tripped over someone.

 

The AL folks love him right now but I have already heard many "where the hell was that all year?!"-type comments.

[ASHKUM BEAR]

Trust me, the AL fans are exploding with WTF right now. Nobody expected that. I don't know if he exposed Clemson's coverage as much as he did something he hasn't done all year. Throwing to him like that is like running a trick play or something. And that screen he took for a big gain was mostly because the contain defender tripped over someone.

 

The AL folks love him right now but I have already heard many "where the hell was that all year?!"-type comments.

I agree, he hasn't done much all season and he was not in Clemsons game plan to account for.. The TE for Clemson, Legget had a good game too. I would rather spend the picks on defense and oline this year and maybe take TE 5th or after.

[AZ54]

Trust me, the AL fans are exploding with WTF right now. Nobody expected that. I don't know if he exposed Clemson's coverage as much as he did something he hasn't done all year. Throwing to him like that is like running a trick play or something. And that screen he took for a big gain was mostly because the contain defender tripped over someone.

 

The AL folks love him right now but I have already heard many "where the hell was that all year?!"-type comments.

 

Easy to make plays when there is no defender there as Clemson's coverage was horrible. Now we know this guy can run but have no idea if he can run routes well. Can he make contested catches? His draft stock went up a couple rounds no doubt from way back to maybe early day 3. Saban is not the type of coach not to use his talented players so his disappearing act for most of the year is concerning but it's possible the coaches just fell in love with Henry and the run. Plus Alabama had QB issues so passing wasn't exactly their strong suit this year.

 

Speaking of which, I hope we don't draft Henry. Not that we're looking RB early anyway but he looked very pedestrian around the LOS. I know he's good at running over college DBs but I don't see 1st Rd shiftiness around the LOS that means you just need to defend the initial direction the play goes and not worry about the backside contain.

 

I didn't see the most of game but it appeared Ragland was being taken off the field on 3rd and long plays. Since there were so many players we could be drafting I recorded the game and I'll watch it someday to focus on guys like Ragland, Robinson, Jarran Reed, Shaq Lawson, Tankersley, Kearse.

[jason]

Easy to make plays when there is no defender there as Clemson's coverage was horrible. Now we know this guy can run but have no idea if he can run routes well. Can he make contested catches? His draft stock went up a couple rounds no doubt from way back to maybe early day 3. Saban is not the type of coach not to use his talented players so his disappearing act for most of the year is concerning but it's possible the coaches just fell in love with Henry and the run. Plus Alabama had QB issues so passing wasn't exactly their strong suit this year.

 

Yep, and both long plays were flukes. The first was a horribly blown coverage, and the second was a TE screen that got the edge because a defender tripped.

 

As for passing issues I don't know. Their identity is purposefully run-heavy and conservative. Alabama recruits and builds road-graders and power backs. Fits perfect with strong D. It's why most AL fans don't like Kiffin; he plays too much. Why pass when the run game is 5+ypc? True story I heard: When Winston went to FSU in '12 he thought he may not start because the guy he was competing against was so good. That guy was Coker. I think he will be in the NFL for several years as a decent QB and/or great backup. They had protection issues more than passing issues.

[jason]

It's been updated, and at this point I think they're trolling Bears fans.

 

http://walterfootball.com/draft2016.php

 

1. A'Shawn Robinson, DE/DT, Alabama

2. Hunter Henry, TE, Arkansas

3. Cardale Jones, QB, Ohio St.

4. Tyler Johnstone, OT, Oregon

 

I will throw up if the Bears get a TE & QB in the first 3 rounds, and ignore ILB in the first four rounds.

[killakrzydav]

I think if they could remove the te pick and choose another area of need I can live with the positions selected. The original draft would make me jump off a cliff with three straight big 10guys then a rb.

[scs787]

It's really tough to fathom these mocks ignoring the ILB position. Maybe if they add the caveat that they have them signing an ILB or 2 I would get it but damn.

 

I hope the draft doesn't play out this way because I'm having a hard time figuring out what I would do.

 

I'm not a huge fan of Scooby as a fit for what I think they should try and do, but given the way this particular draft played out, I would take him with the 3rd pick.

[ASHKUM BEAR]

Some combos with needs. Give me some different ones. We seem to do better than most draft sites.

1-Deforest Buckner DL

2-Kyler Frackell or Derron Lee LB

3-Sebastian Tretola G

 

1-Myles Jack LB

2-Cody Whitehair G

3-Shaun Oakman DL

 

1 Ronnie Stanley OT

2-Frackell-Lee LB

3-Oakman DL

 

1Myles Jack LB

2Kevin Dodd-Jarron Reed DL

3-Sebastian Tretola G

 

[jason]

Some combos with needs. Give me some different ones. We seem to do better than most draft sites.

1-Deforest Buckner DL

2-Kyler Frackell or Derron Lee LB

3-Sebastian Tretola G

 

1-Myles Jack LB

2-Cody Whitehair G

3-Shaun Oakman DL

 

1 Ronnie Stanley OT

2-Frackell-Lee LB

3-Oakman DL

 

1Myles Jack LB

2Kevin Dodd-Jarron Reed DL

3-Sebastian Tretola G

 

Tough choices, but I've broken down how I feel about them.

 

A. Neither LB is an ILB.

B. Whitehair is going to be a soft OG.

C. See A

D. Win by default, gimme Dodd in Rd 2.

 

Honestly, I don't like Fackrell all that much. He overpursues and his feet look slow. And while I like Reed more, he's really an OLB, not an ILB. I already said I don't like Whitehair a lot at OG, but the rest of the guys on the lists look good. If the Bears started out with Jack, Dodd, and Tretola, I would be hyped. Jack will be dynamic provided his injury is healed, Dodd looked explosive off the edge, and Tretola looks like a mauler. That would be a great start.

[scs787]

Agreed, D is the only one I like.

 

Kinda bummed Cravens is getting 1st round buzz. My ideal picks would be Buckner then Cravens. There's a good chance Buckner isn't there either.

 

Starting to not be a huge fan of this years draft.

[ASHKUM BEAR]

Drafttek's new mock is interesting: http://www.drafttek.com/2016-NFL-Mock-Draft-Round1.asp

 

1-Robert Nkimdiche DT Miss (notable selections after: Buckner, Ragland)

 

I have read from some scouts that his lack of production was because teams double or triple teamed him. He is a top 5 talent, but also has flags about character. Could former SEC d-lineman Ferguson take him in and make him a pro?

 

2-Jerald Hawkins OT LSU (notable selections after: Jack Conklin OT, Shaq Lawson, Su'a Cravens, Kendall Fuller CB, Kevin Dodd DL)

 

I feel oline needs to be addressed in the first 3 rounds. He could play OT or OG and fills a void. I would have a hard time passing on Conklin even going Cravens.

 

3-Antwaun Woods DT USC (notable selections after: Kevin Hogan QB, Kyle Murphy OT, Sebastian Tretola G, Tyler Johnstone OT, Kyler Frackell LB, and Joe Haeg OT)

 

I am not a fan of spending a 3rd on a NT with Goldman on the team, bad selection. Give me Tretola G, Haeg OT, or Frackell who I believe can play ILB.

 

4-Dadi Nicolas OLB (notable pick I would be tempted on Christian Hackenberg QB)

 

I am good with a OLB after RD3 this year. I have been seeing Hackenberg RD3 or 4 lately, has he really fallen that far off? If he is there at 4, I think it is worth a shot.

 

5-Josh Forrest ILB

 

6-Tyler Higbee TE

 

6-Brian Poole CB

 

6-Kevin Byard SS

 

7-Eric Mac Cain OG