The first round of the 2016 NFL Draft didn't go as expected. Teams seemed to be generally drafting for need, rather than going with best player available. Some teams were able to hit on both, but there were a lot of prospects that fell out of the first round.
Thanks to our pals over at Fanspeak, we're going to mock out rounds 2-7 using their On The Clock draft simulator. I didn't go with any trades this time out and I stuck close to what I think Bears' general manager might do. I didn't rigidly follow the CBS Sports Big Board that I used, because I think Pace, his scouts and coaches have a different idea of how to rank their prospects.
Here's the link to the full mock so you can see how the draft board fell.
Second Round - Pick 41: Chris Jones, Defensive End, Mississippi State
Jones has the kind of length I believe head coach John Fox and company like in a 5 tech DE. At 6'6", 308 pounds, Jones strikes an imposing presence.
Third Round - Pick 72: Darian Thompson, Safety, Boise State
I had Thompson going at this spot in my last mock. He would be a candidate to start at safety as a rookie because of his solid center-field type skills.
Fourth Round - Pick 127: Nick Vannett, Tight End, Ohio State
Another repeat from my Mock 5.0. WCGs draft guru, EJ Snyder, profiled Vannett last month in a scouting report and he liked what he saw. I also like him as a prospect, but he's another guy I fear may go a round earlier.
Fifth Round - Pick 150: D.J. White, Cornerback, Georgia Tech
White was a three year starter and team captain for the Yellow Jackets. At 5'11", he may settle into the nickle role, but he's a good athlete with press man experience.
Sixth Round - Pick 185: De'Vondre Campbell, Outside Linebacker, Minnesota
If the Bears are gonna double up at a position, it may as well be pass rusher. Campbell ran a 4.58 forty at the combine, but like Floyd, he's a little thin at 232 pounds on his 6'4 frame. He's a good athlete that could help on special teams while he hones his craft as an OLB.
Sixth Round - Pick 206: Joe Haeg, Offensive Tackle, North Dakota State
Haeg is an athletic offensive lineman that was a 4 year starter at both RT and LT. If he takes to coaching and an NFL weight room, he could be a good swing tackle.
Seventh Round - Pick 230: Moritz Boehringer, Wide Receiver, Schwabisch Hall
It's the 7th round, so let's gamble on the athletically gifted German wide out. He measured 6'4", 227 pounds at his pro day and check out the numbers he put up. 4.43 forty, 39' vertical, a broad jump of 10'11", a 20 yard short shuttle of 4.10 seconds, a 3-cone of 6.65 seconds and 17 reps of 225 on the bench.
His spider-graph from MockDraftable is crazy.
What are you hoping to see the Bears address tonight and tomorrow?