With the NFL Draft rapidly approaching, some national writers updated their mock drafts this week. Here's a sampling of who they think the Bears will select with their first two picks in the second round at Nos. 43 and 50:
Josh Edwards, CBS Sports (updated April 17)
No. 43: Louisiana offensive lineman Robert Hunt
Comment: Hunt has Pro Bowl potential as an interior offensive line prospect. He played right tackle for the Ragin' Cajuns last season.
No. 50: California safety Ashtyn Davis
Comment: Davis is a smart player that can organize the defense on the back end in Chicago. He has track traits that translate.
Kevin Hanson, Sports Illustrated (April 17)
No. 43: Ohio State cornerback Damon Arnette
No. 50: Southern Illinois safety Jeremy Chinn
Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN (April 14)
No. 43: Notre Dame tight end Cole Kmet
Comment: Kmet is the best tight end in an unspectacular class, but the talent is there for him to be a good blocker and receiver.
No. 50: Penn State receiver K.J. Hamler
Comment: Whether it's Nick Foles or Mitchell Trubisky at quarterback in 2020, the Bears need weapons. That's why I got them a tight end at No. 43, and that's why I'm going with a wide receiver here. Hamler, who is only 5-foot-9, 178 pounds, is explosive in space and can play in the slot or outside. Though he wasn't able to work out at the combine because of a hamstring injury, I feel comfortable saying he's one of the fastest players in the class. His problem last season was drops -- he had nine. If he can get that corrected, Chicago will have a really good player on its hands.
Chad Reuter, NFL.com (April 17)
No. 43: Michigan center Cesar Ruiz
No. 50: Southern Illinois safety Jeremy Chinn
Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports (April 16)
No. 43: Houston offensive lineman Josh Jones
Comment: Jones can play inside or outside but projects best at tackle due to his combination of length, athleticism, balance, and power.
No. 50: Clemson cornerback A.J. Terrell
Comment: Terrell has all the tools and experience to be a shutdown outside cornerback in the NFL.
With the 2020 NFL Draft set to kick off in just over two weeks, senior writer Larry Mayer ranks the top 10 drafts in Bears history.
(10) 1954
The Bears landed two key offensive stars in the 1954 draft in second-round fullback Rick Casares and 15th-round receiver Harlon Hill. Casares played 10 seasons with the Bears, rushing for 5,675 yards and 49 touchdowns on 1,386 carries. He was the franchise's all-time leader rusher until he was surpassed by Walter Payton in 1979. Hill spent eight seasons with the Bears. He was voted NFL Rookie of the Year in 1954, became the first winner of the Jim Thorpe Trophy as league MVP in 1955, and was a three-time All Pro selection.
(9) 2003
The Bears spent second- and third-round picks in 2003 on cornerback Charles Tillman and linebacker Lance Briggs, who helped fuel a defense that led the team to three NFC North titles in six seasons from 2005-10. In consecutive road wins over the Cowboys and Jaguars in 2012, Tillman and Briggs became the first teammates in NFL history to both return interceptions for touchdowns in back-to-back games.
(8) 2000
The Bears hit back-to-back home runs in the first two rounds of the 2000 draft when they selected Hall of Fame middle linebacker Brian Urlacher at No. 9 and safety Mike Brown at No. 39. Urlacher was the face of the franchise for more than a decade, earning eight trips to the Pro Bowl and the 2005 NFL defensive player of the year award. Brown was the heart-and-soul of the defense; a two-time All-Pro who recorded 17 interceptions with the Bears.
(7) 1939
Before the 1938 season, the Bears traded end Edgar "Eggs" Manske to the Steelers in exchange for their first-round pick in 1939. The Bears used the selection to choose Hall of Fame quarterback Sid Luckman second overall. Luckman led the Bears to four league titles and helped revolutionize pro football by helping to introduce the "T" formation. The Bears also landed fullback Bill Osmanski with the sixth pick in the first round and guard Ray Bray in the ninth round.
(6) 1940
The Bears selected Hall of Fame center/tackle/linebacker Clyde "Bulldog" Turner with the seventh pick in the first round of the draft. An eight-time first-team All-Pro, Turner helped the Bears win four NFL championships in his first seven seasons and remained with the team through 1952. The Bears also spent a second-round pick on receiver Ken Kavanaugh, who remains the franchise's all-time leader with 50 touchdown receptions.
(5) 1981
First-round right tackle Keith Van Horne started 169 games over 13 seasons with the Bears on some of the best offensive lines in NFL history. Fourth-round safety Todd Bell also thrived before sitting out the 1985 season due to a contract dispute. But the key to the 1981 draft was the selection of Hall of Fame middle linebacker Mike Singletary in the second round at No. 38 overall.
(4) 1975
The Bears selected the great Walter Payton with the fourth overall pick in the first round. But Sweetness was just one of nine players from the '75 draft who would eventually become a starter. The crop included a pair of steals in safety Doug Plank in the 12th round and fullback Roland Harper in the 17th round.
(3) 1936
The Bears landed two Hall of Famers in the very first NFL draft when they picked offensive linemen Joe Stydahar in the first round and Danny Fortmann in the ninth round. Playing next to each other on the left side of the Bears offensive line, Stydahar and Fortmann helped the "Monsters of the Midway" revolutionize the NFL with the T-formation.
(2) 1965
The Bears selected a pair of legendary Hall of Famers in middle linebacker Dick Butkus and running back Gale Sayers with back-to-back picks in the first round at Nos. 3 and 4. Both are considered among the greatest players to ever line up at their respective positions. The '65 draft also produced receiver Dick Gordon in the seventh round.
(1) 1983
The 1983 draft produced seven starters on the 1985 Super Bowl championship team, including Hall of Famers Jimbo Covert in the first round and defensive end Richard Dent in the eighth round. The impressive haul also included Willie Gault, Mike Richardson, Dave Duerson, Tom Thayer and Mark Bortz.
