With the NFL Draft just three weeks from Thursday, here's who 17 draft analysts are predicting the Bears will select with the 20th pick in the first round:
Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune (April 1)
Pick: Virginia Tech cornerback Caleb Farley
Comment: The Bears need to fortify an offense that was 22nd in scoring last season and 29th in 2019. There is also a gaping hole in the secondary after another former Virginia Tech cornerback, Kyle Fuller, was a cap casualty. Farley's stock has taken a hit because of a back issue, but if medical info checks out, he's a worthy first-round pick. He once was the potential top corner off the board.
Nate Davis, USA Today (March 27)
Pick: South Carolina cornerback Jaycee Horn
Previous picks: Minnesota receiver Rashod Bateman (Jan. 28), TCU safety Trevon Moehrig (March 12)
Josh Edwards, CBS Sports (April 3)
Pick: Oklahoma State tackle Teven Jenkins
Comment: Chicago has made a few small signings along the offensive line but none to exclude them from the draft market. Teven Jenkins gives them a mean streak on the offensive line to protect QB1.
Previous picks: Texas outside linebacker Joseph Ossai (Jan. 28), Michigan offensive lineman Jalen Mayfield (Feb. 18), Oklahoma State tackle Teven Jenkins (March 18)
Kevin Fishbain, The Athletic (March 29)
Pick: Minnesota receiver Rashod Bateman
Comment: I'm trying out a different receiver to start things off after going with Kadarius Toney in Mock Draft 1.0. The Bears' reported pursuit of Kenny Golladay and the way this front office has previously handled wide receivers as opposed to offensive tackles keeps sending me in the direction of a pass-catcher in Round 1. Bateman is a different kind of weapon than Toney. He's not the plant-and-go, zero-to-60 speedster. He knows how to get open and seemed to make clutch catch after clutch catch for the Golden Gophers. He's probably a slightly slower version of Allen Robinson, but here's thinking the Bears already have their vertical threat in Darnell Mooney and a "gadget" with Tarik Cohen, who could be playing wideout more often with the recent addition of Damien Williams to the backfield.
Previous pick: Florida receiver Kadarius Toney (Feb. 25)
Vinnie Iyer, The Sporting News (March 25)
Pick: Florida receiver Kadarius Toney
Comment: The Bears are disappointed in Anthony Miller and look intent to upgrade the slot between Allen Robinson and speedy second-year player Darnell Mooney, which is also a key position to help new starting QB Andy Dalton have success. Toney is dynamic after the catch and also has some middle of the field-stretching ability.
Previous picks: Northwestern tackle Rashawn Slater (Jan. 26), Alabama defensive tackle Christian Barmore (Feb. 18)
Adam Jahns, The Athletic (March 29)
Pick: Oklahoma State tackle Teven Jenkins
Comment: The Bears' interest in 49ers left tackle Trent Williams in free agency should stand out. They weren't financially equipped to compete with the 49ers' offer, but San Francisco's trade up to No. 3 in the draft does help the Bears if they still have interest in finding a potential upgrade at offensive tackle this season. It's widely believed that there will be a run on quarterbacks in the first five picks after the 49ers' bold move. The Bears surely are full of envy, but they can also benefit. Jenkins or Virginia Tech's Christian Darrisaw could be there at No. 20 because of it. In the beat writer mock draft, I went with Darrisaw because Jenkins was already selected.
Previous pick: Virginia tech tackle Christian Darrisaw (Feb. 25)
Daniel Jeremiah, NFL.com (April 6)
Pick: Northwestern cornerback Greg Newsome
Comment: Newsome is a plug-and-play guy who can replace Kyle Fuller. The Bears could also go with an offensive tackle here.
Previous picks: Michigan offensive lineman Jalen Mayfield (Jan. 22), Florida receiver Kadarius Toney (Feb. 16)
Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN (March 23)
Pick: USC offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker
Comment: Vera-Tucker is a high-upside lineman with all the traits to be a longtime starter at tackle.
Previous picks: Oklahoma State tackle Teven Jenkins (Jan. 26), Florida receiver Kadarius Toney (Feb. 25).
Nick Klopsis, Newsday (April 5)
Pick: Virginia Tech cornerback Caleb Farley
Comment: The Bears released star cornerback Kyle Fuller and replaced him with Desmond Trufant, but they could use more depth behind him and second-year pro Jaylon Johnson. Caleb Farley opted out of the 2020 season, but he has an excellent mix of size (6-2, 207), speed, and physicality in press man coverage. He does have a bit of an injury history and missed his Pro Day to undergo a procedure on his back, but agent Drew Rosenhaus said Farley should be good to go by training camp.
Previous pick: Texas tackle Samuel Cosmi (Feb. 8)
Todd McShay, ESPN (April 1)
Pick: Florida receiver Kadarius Toney
Comment: Chicago is likely out of reach to trade up for a top-five QB, at least without completely leveraging the organization's future. So it might as well give Andy Dalton—and his eventual replacement—another playmaker to work with, even after placing the franchise tag on Allen Robinson II. Toney is a different kind of receiver: He isn't polished, but he's versatile and explosive. Get the ball to him and he'll make things happen. The Bears could use that skill set on offense.
Previous picks: Mississippi receiver Elijah Moore (Jan. 7), Alabama quarterback Mac Jones at No. 12 via a trade with 49ers (Feb. 9), Virginia Tech tackle Christian Darrisaw (March 4).
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports (April 3)
Pick: Oklahoma State tackle Teven Jenkins
Comment: Their tackle situation is problematic on the right side, and Jenkins could step in and start right away. He is a nasty player who would fit their offense.
Previous pick: Michigan offensive lineman Jalen Mayfield (Feb. 17), Oklahoma State tackle Teven Jenkins (March 9)
Chad Reuter, NFL.com (March 26)
Pick: Alabama quarterback Mac Jones (at No. 11 via trade with Giants)
Comment: GM Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy bring in Jones to learn behind consummate pro Andy Dalton in 2021. Jones' athleticism is average, though he performed better than expected at his pro day. His pocket feel and accuracy are something the Bears lacked the past few seasons. They give up a third-round pick this year and a 2022 first to make this deal.
Previous pick: Michigan offensive lineman Jalen Mayfield (Feb. 8), Virginia Tech tackle Christian Darrisaw (March 5)
Michael Renner, Pro Football Focus (March 22)
Pick: USC offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker
Comment: Vera-Tucker is yet another versatile offensive lineman who started at left guard in 2019 and left tackle in 2020. With the flux along the Bears' offensive line in recent years, that flexibility is a necessity at this point.
Joal Ryan, 247 Sports (March 10)
Pick: USC offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker
Comment: Alijah Vera-Tucker opted out of his junior year at USC, and declared for the draft. The guard is listed at 6-foot-4, 315 pounds.
Previous pick: Virginia Tech tackle Christian Darrisaw (Jan. 26)
Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports (April 3)
Pick: Oklahoma State tackle Teven Jenkins
Comment: Back-to-back tackles (after Washington picks Alabama's Alex Leatherwood), and the Bears get a nasty one in Jenkins who plays with impeccable balance and fundamentals in pass pro.
Previous picks: Oklahoma State tackle Teven Jenkins (Jan. 27), USC offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker (Feb. 17), Minnesota receiver Rashod Bateman (March 18)
Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports (April 5)
Pick: Texas tackle Samuel Cosmi
Comment: The Bears appear set on moving forward with Andy Dalton so we'll take that as a sign that they won't move up for a QB here. If so, fixing the offensive line is imperative and Cosmi is an athletic left tackle who had a solid career for the Longhorns.
Previous picks: Alabama defensive lineman Christian Barmore (Jan. 26), Virginia Tech tackle Christian Darrisaw (Feb. 15), North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance at No. 13 via a trade with the Chargers (March 22)
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com (March 29)
Pick: Miami edge rusher Gregory Rousseau
Comment: Robert Quinn, last offseason's big addition on a five-year $70 million deal, provided a grand total of two sacks in 2020. Rousseau remains raw, with just 15 college games under his belt, but he offers enticing length and athleticism on the edge.
Previous pick: Oklahoma State tackle Teven Jenkins (Feb. 4), Miami edge rusher Gregory Rousseau (March 19)
