Wondering about a player, a past game or another issue involving the Bears? Senior writer Larry Mayer answers a variety of questions from fans on ChicagoBears.com.
With the NFL Draft fast approaching, which schools have the Bears drafted the most players from?
Kevin T.
Dyer, Indiana
The Bears have drafted at least 20 players from nine different colleges. Notre Dame leads the way with 42, followed by Ohio State (30), Texas (27), Oklahoma (26), Stanford (24), Northwestern (21), Miami (21), Arkansas (20) and Florida (20). The Bears only picked a player from one of those schools last year when they selected tight end Cole Kmet in the second round out of Notre Dame. Interestingly, they haven't chosen a player from any of the other eight colleges since 2010.
Is the 17th game going to be NFC versus AFC every year?
Darin S.
Auburn, Washington
Yes, every season will pit NFC and AFC opponents that finish in the same place in the standings of their respective divisions the year before against each other in the so-called 17th game. The matchups will be set via a rotational basis. For instance, this year the NFC North is paired with the AFC West, which means that the Bears will visit the Las Vegas Raiders because both teams finished second in their divisions in 2020. The Bears will then play the teams that finish in the same place in the AFC South in 2022, AFC North in 2023, AFC East in 2024 and so on. All of the interconference games will be hosted by AFC teams in odd-numbered years and NFC squads in even-numbered years.
I saw a question in a previous "Chalk Talk" about the strongest positions in the draft. So what would you say are the weakest areas?
Paul W.
Woodstock, Illinois
Most of the draft analysts I've listened to and read this offseason agree that defensive tackle, tight end and safety are some of the weaker positions in this year's crop. Alabama's Christian Barmore could be the only interior defensive lineman chosen in the first round, and he's not expected to be a top-15 pick. Florida tight end Kyle Pitts might be the most talented prospect in the draft, but the rest of the position is thin. And while there are a slew of quality cornerbacks, there are only a handful of starting-quality safeties, according to most draft analysts.
Chalk Talk features fan questions multiple times each week. Email your question to Larry.
