2018 NFL Mock Drafts: Who will the Bears draft?
The 2018 NFL Draft is on our doorsteps and the Cleveland Browns will be on the clock soon, ready to blow their latest draft pick.
The experts have all had a chance to weigh in on how they see the draft playing out, and here’s just a sampling of whom they claim the Bears will select in the first round.
Roquan Smith – LB, Georgia
“The Bears have a clear need at inside linebacker after the release of veteran Jerrell Freeman. Plus, veteran Danny Trevathan — while talented — has missed 11 regular-season games since he signed with Chicago two years ago. Smith is a talented, vocal leader who fits well in the middle of the Bears’ defense. Chicago defensive coordinator Vic Fangio understands the importance of solid play at inside linebacker from his days of coaching Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman in San Francisco.”
–Jeff Dickerson
Roquan Smith – ILB, Georgia
“Linebacker is the position that best defines the storied history of the organization and Smith would be a great player to carry that tradition forward.”
–Brad Biggs
Quenton Nelson – G, Notre Dame
“The Bears need an edge rusher. With Chubb gone, they could consider inside linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, who they could use as a pass rusher in nickel and dime sets while the 19-year-old develops a more well-rounded game. If they wanted to stick with defense, they could turn to Roquan Smith, though he might only be a two-down player if the Bears prefer to keep Danny Trevathan on the field on passing downs. With Nelson available, though, the Bears don’t have to make that decision. They can plug him in at left guard and let him block for Mitch Trubisky for the next decade.”
–Patrick Finley
Harold Landry – Edge, Boston College
“The Bears were hoping to draft an edge pass rusher at 8, they make the trade and still get a very good one. They also pick up a second-round pick in the trade down.”
–Greg Gabriel
Quenton Nelson – G, Notre Dame
“My gut tells me Bears want to trade down but if Nelson’s there it’s just too perfect a fit.”
–Hub Arkush
Denzel Ward – CB, Ohio State
“Ward’s the top corner in this draft — that seems to be the consensus across the league. The Bears broke the bank open on offense in free agency; they get a Day One starter at corner with the eighth pick.”
–Peter Schrager
Tremaine Edmunds – ILB, Virginia Tech
“Edmunds is starting to gain a lot of steam when you talk to teams around the league. It wouldn’t surprise me if he were off the board before Chicago picks.”
–Daniel Jeremiah
Denzel Ward – CB, Ohio State
“Despite the Bears’ focus on upgrading the offense earlier this offseason, adding an electric cover corner with exceptional speed, quickness and movement skills is a top priority for Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy.”
–Bucky Brooks
Quenton Nelson – G, Notre Dame
“Everything fits here. Support your young QB (Mitchell Trubisky), continue a commitment to the power running game and, yes, Nelson’s O-line coach from Notre Dame (Harry Hiestand) is now with the Bears.”
–Rhett Lewis
Quenton Nelson – G, Notre Dame
“The Bears cannot believe he lasted this long, but now they have the makings of an all-pro interior O-line: Cody Whitehair at C, Kyle Long at RG, and now Nelson at LG. Good move to build around second-year QB Mitchell Trubisky.”
–Charles Davis
Denzel Ward – CB, Ohio State
“This pick gives the Bears two talented young cornerbacks with Ward joining Kyle Fuller in the secondary.”
–Charley Casserly
Mike McGlinchey – OT, Notre Dame
“With all the new weapons added in free agency, Chicago needs to protect its franchise quarterback. McGlinchey, whose college O-line coach (Harry Hiestand) is now with the Bears, will help do just that.”
–Maurice Jones-Drew
Denzel Ward – CB, Ohio State
“Chicago needs a cornerback who can play man to man and hold his own against the receivers the Bears face in the NFC North. There’s no doubt Ward is up to the challenge.”
–Curtis Conway
Quenton Nelson – G, Notre Dame
“New Bears offensive line coach Harry Hiestand would love to see his former pupil at South Bend available here. Hiestand previously served as ND’s O-line coach.”
–Chad Reuter
Quenton Nelson – G, Notre Dame
“He is the cleanest player in the draft and the Bears need guard help. He would step in at left guard and start right away.”
–Pete Prisco
Roquan Smith – LB, Georgia
“I picked for the Bears and would have jumped the Bucs for Quenton Nelson or moved back with the Dolphins for Rosen had that been an option on the clock. But Smith is a really nice consolation prize.”
–Will Brinson
Quenton Nelson – OL, Notre Dame
“Perfect fit with his old coach. Quarterbacks need to slip and trades need to happen in order for Nelson to be on the board here.”
–Will Brinson
Roquan Smith – LB, Georgia
“Picking between Smith and Tremaine Edmunds is a coin toss, but Smith is a player who seems more capable of immediately raising the level of a defense. The Bears already spent big to upgrade the offense by signing Allen Robinson, Trey Burton and Taylor Gabriel. So I’m leaning toward the idea that Bears GM Ryan Pace wants to find wins sooner rather than later.”
–Adam Stites
Harold Landry – DE, Boston College
“The Bears are still lacking in the pass-rush department—something division-rival quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers, Matt Stafford, and Kirk Cousins are sure to exploit. That’s where Landry comes in. The former Boston College star’s numbers fell last year as he played through an ankle injury (he finished with just 5.0 sacks), but the Bears should be more focused on his 2016 numbers (16.5 sacks) and an outstanding combine performance—including a 6.88-second three-cone time that illustrates his explosiveness in the short area. Put Landry out there opposite Leonard Floyd and the Bears could present some problems to opposing passers.”
–Danny Kelly
Tremaine Edmunds – LB, Virginia Tech
“The one thing the Bears are missing is a big-time middle linebacker. That’s why I’d take Tremaine Edmunds from Virginia Tech. Edmunds is built to play in a 3-4 defense … He’s an elite athlete with fluid hips and great change-of-direction in coverage. He’s great against both the run and pass, and he can bring pressure up the middle. Adding Edmunds could give the Bears their new version of Brian Urlacher.”
–Chris Simms
Tremaine Edmunds – LB, Virginia Tech
“Vic Fangio could use a hammer for the middle of a defense that has a pretty good three-man front, edge pass-rush upside and solid returning cornerbacks. Edmunds is explosive enough to fly all over the field with the natural ability to also get after the quarterback.”
–Vinnie Iyer
Minkah Fitzpatrick – DB, Alabama
“A similar player to James, Fitzpatrick is slightly less imposing but also offers more in a coverage role. He could be a nice nickel between CBs Kyle Fuller and Prince Amukamara and perhaps a starting safety in short order.”
–Nate Davis