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I like the draft coverage over at CBSSports. They do a good job with all their prospect scouting reports from NFLDraftScout.com, and their mock draft section has frequent updates..
Their two most recent mocks were done yesterday, so we'll focus on those today. Both Rob Rang and Dane Brugler mocked out two rounds, and both went with different players for the Chicago Bears. We'll spotlight the Rob Rang mock first.
At 14th overall Rob Rang selects Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh, and here is his reasoning for the selection.
The free agent additions of Lamarr Houston and Willie Young (among others) certainly lessens the need for defensive linemen but penetrators like Donald don't come around often. Given the caliber of explosive offenses in the NFC North, getting pressure on opposing quarterbacks is paramount.
I've been on board with Donald for months, and I see no reason to change now. He's the best DT in the draft, and he fills a need for the Bears. 'Nuff Said.
In the 2nd round he gives the Bears Marcus Roberson, CB, from Florida. Here's his take on the pick.
An aging Chicago secondary could use reinforcements and few corners in this class play with Roberson's instincts and physicality.
Fellow WCG writer Steven Schweickert looked at Roberson over the weekend, and for that article you can click here.
I think this would be a good 2nd round pick up for Phil Emery and the Bears. He's big enough at 6', 191 pounds, with long arms and a 37.5' vertical leap, to match up with the bigger wide outs in the NFL. He could use some strength, but that can easily be added in an NFL weight room. I think a season spent backing up Chicago's Pro Bowl corners would do wonders for his game.
Dane Brugler has the Bears going with a defensive tackle at 14 in his mock draft, but not the one most fans want. He passes on Donald in favor of Timmy Jernigan, DT, Florida State. I may disagree with the pick, but his reasoning is solid.
This pick is expected to be either defensive line or secondary and with no interior defensive lineman drafted to this point, the Bears could have their pick of the litter. Jernigan has the versatility and well-rounded style that might attract Chicago.
Jernigan (6'2" 299) is bigger than Donald (6'1" 285), and he projects to be able to play the nose in the Bears 4-3 scheme, as well as the three technique DT. If Phil Emery is looking for a bigger and more versatile interior defender, I could see him going with Jernigan.
In the second round he has the Bears double dipping at DT with Dominique Easley of Florida.
Yes, the Bears went defensive tackle in the first round, but could copy what Carolina did last year and go back to the DL well in the second round.
If you remember the 2004 NFL Draft, the Bears took Tommie Harris in the first, then Tank Johnson in the 2nd. That worked out before Harris has some injury problems and Johnson had some firearms problems.
Easley had some injury issues early in his collegiate career, but he appears to be fully healed now. His size (6'2", 288) and explosiveness lends itself to playing in a 1 gap system, and he has some experience at defensive end. He was a team captain at Florida and scouts call him a high motor player.
Which mock do you like best?
Also be sure to check out how their mocks fell, and let us know if you would have drafted that way for the Bears.