Full 7-Round Mock NFL Draft: Chicago Bears

NFL Free Agency is in full swing, and the signings and departures from each team have changed the needs of all 32 teams. I recently conducted a full 7-round mock draft on Pro Football Focus, acting as the general manager for every team. Taking into consideration team needs and positional value I made all 257 picks in the best interest of each team on the clock. This is how the Chicago Bears fared in the draft.

For months, Bears fans have been debating amongst themselves, unable to reach a consensus about whether the team should draft a quarterback with the first overall pick or draft Marvin Harrison Jr and stick with Justin Fields. The question has been answered for them, with the Bears sending Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a 2025 6th-round pick. The Bears have only 4 selections in the 2024 NFL Draft, with two of those in the first round.

Spoiler alert: They won't take a receiver with any of them. They gave up a fourth-round pick to get Keenan Allen from the Los Angeles Chargers, forming a dynamic duo with DJ Moore who had 96 receptions for 1,364 yards and 8 touchdowns last season. They resigned Jaylon Johnson and brought in tight end Gerald Everett. My prediction is they trade the top pick to Washington and draft JJ McCarthy, but this was a "no-trade" mock draft, so the Bears will select 1, 9, 75, and 122.

Round 1, Pick 1: Caleb Williams, Quarterback, USC Despite what may have been falsely reported, and regardless of fake quotes over amateur-created memes, the reality is that Caleb Williams is the one of best quarterback prospects in the last 20 years, and he will be the first pick in the draft. The 2023 Heisman winner is 6'1 and 218 pounds, and likely won't run a forty for scouts, but if he did, he'd be in the 4.50-4.60 range.

Last year, considered a down year by many experts, he completed 68.6% of his passes for 3,633 yards (303 yards per game) with 30 touchdowns to just 5 interceptions, and a 170.1 passer rating. Williams has elite arm talent and can make any throw that exists, and create throws that don't. High velocity and soft touch are a combo many prospects don't possess. His team had serious offensive line issues in 2023, and he was able to buy time and complete passes even under duress and while on the run.

Fans who know nothing will say he doesn't have the intangibles like leadership or will to win, but his coaches and teammates (people who actually know him) will say he is the ultimate leader and competitor. The two knocks on his game are his size, and the fact that he's only played in the shotgun, and will have to learn to play under center and develop his footwork. Round 1, Pick 9: Byron Murphy, Defensive Tackle, Texas The Bears were second to last in sacks last season (30 total), allowing quarterbacks to complete over 66% of their passes, and gave up 31 passing touchdowns (4th from the bottom of the league). They addressed the problem mid-season with a trade for an extension for edge rusher Montez Sweat. In 9 games for the Bears, he recorded 20% of all their sacks. With the ninth pick in the draft, the Bears select Texas interior defensive lineman Byron Murphy II. Murphy is 6'1 and weighs 308 pounds. He ran a 4.87 forty at the combine, had 28 bench press reps, and showed off a 33" vertical. He is an amazing athlete. Last season for the Longhorns, he had six sacks and 36 hurries on 273 passrush snaps. Every 7.5 times the opposing quarterback dropped back, he was hurried by Murphy. He has a relentless motor and battles through the whistle on every play. Murphy quickly diagnoses plays and reacts appropriately. He has to be double-teamed on every snap, and in Chicago, that will mean even better sack numbers for Sweat. His bread and butter is in the passing game, and needs to develop as a run stuffer. Versatility is valued in the NFL and Murphy can play inside and outside, but will most likely spend the majority of his career over center.

Round 3, Pick 75: Christian Mahogany, Guard, Boston College

The Bears' offensive line is solid, with tackle Braxton Jones and last year's top pick Darnell Wright. Teven Jenkins is an absolute mauler at guard, but the team released their other guard, Cody Whitehair. In the third round of the draft, they take Boston College interior lineman Christian Mahogany. He is 6'3 and 322 pounds.

In 1568 snaps at right guard for Boston College, Mahogany allowed just one sack. He uses his hands aggressively, landing solid first punches. He plays with a wide base and is very difficult to get around.

Lacking adequate quickness against the pass rush, he will rely heavily on his upper body strength, and this will also affect his pad level.

Round 4, Pick 122: Jarvis Brownlee Jr, Cornerback, Louisville Cornerback is not a major need for the Bears after resigning Johnson, drafting Tyrique Stevenson last season, and with Kyler Gordon coming back, so in the fourth round of the draft, the team makes a depth selection with Louisville corner Jarvis Brownlee Jr. He is 5'10 and 194 pounds and runs a 4.45-second forty. Over the last two seasons, he had 12 pass breakups and 3 interceptions. Brownlee does play bigger than his listed size and plays physically in the passing game and the running game as a tackler. He displays great change of direction and ultraquick feet. A bit of a gambler in the passing, Brownlee can give up big plays trying to make plays, but he can also make big plays himself. He has adequate speed, but is not elite, and may spend the majority of his career as a nickelback.

,Wayne G is a contributor and the host of the The NFL Experts podcast. He is interactive on ,Twitter.,

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