Daniel Jeremiah has Bears upgrading at tackle in latest mock draft
After the Bears switched to the No. 9 pick, their options for approaching the draft changed drastically.
Originally, it was thought that the bears might change their strategy. Automatically assuming they would address the ditches if they had a top 5 pick, they now have different options with the No. 9 pick.
Are they going back to the trenches? Do you take the top cornerback? Maybe the top receiver?
In NFL analyst Daniel Jeremiah’s latest mock draft for NFL.com, he thinks the Bears will stick to their most glaring need.
Offensive tackle.
He reckons the Bears will not only stay at No. 9, but also take on Peter Skoronski of the Northwest — and suburban Chicago.
“I love this choice for the bears. Skoronski would be an instant upgrade for Justin Fields,” Jeremiah wrote.
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As mentioned, now that the Bears are called up lower down the pecking order, they could surprise some teams by addressing a need outside the trenches.
However, in this particular mock, Jeremiah has two cornerbacks ahead of the Bears’ pick at No. 9. He writes in No. 6 Devon Witherspoon to the Detroit Lions and Christian Gonzalez at No. 8.
However, the Bears could pick the top receiver in the draft in Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Jeremiah has the Ohio State product going to the Tennessee Titans two picks after the Bears.
Sure, the Bears traded for Moore, who is an instant upgrade on the #1 pass catcher spot. However, they have an unproven asset in Chase Claypool and the position lacks depth. Could they reinvigorate their wide receiver core?
It would be the wisest idea to go the route of improving the ditches on both sides of the ball. The Bears have made minor improvements on both sides this offseason.
On the offensive side, the Bears made a unique signing with Nate Davis on the right. Hopefully this signing clears up the inside line confusion. Davis will play right guard, Teven Jenkins could switch to left guard, and Cody Whitehair can spend snaps in the middle.
They have garish question marks around the edges; hence the result of this mock draft, the bears taking Skoronski.
Switching to the defensive side, the Bears have signed Andrew Billings and DeMarcus Walker. Neither of them barely moves the needle. Strengthening the line of defense remains a bold and underscored task on the laundry list.
We’ll find out how the Bears attack the draft in late April.
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