Chicago Bears 7 Round Mock Draft: BPA Edition

Thanks to our friends over at Fanspeak, we have access to their fun On The Clock Draft Simulator again this year. I use it as a tool to help me go through the draft process and learn about some potential prospects for the Chicago Bears. Every mock that I run through will be with a different scenario in mind. With this one, I’m sticking with a best player available policy, because we’ve seen Bears general manager Ryan Pace do that in the past. The only time I planned to veer from *BPA was when the top player available was a repeat position from earlier in my draft, or if it was from a position of obvious strength on the team.

If I did go down the board, the most I’d allow myself if 3 spots. I figure these players are all similarity rated, and this is something Pace would do himself.

On this mock I did go away from strict *BPA twice. I did it with my first 4th round selection, but as luck would have it, the guy I passed on was still there on my second 4th round pick, so I took him because of the value. I also passed on an edge rusher in the 5th, and went with a wide out.

I also didn’t execute any trades in this mock, but I will do a trade down mock at some point in the coming weeks, so stay tuned.

Free agency, the combine, trades and the player workouts will obviously shake up these boards, so keep that in mind.

Here's the link to my full mock draft so you can see what I left on the table and I used the CBS Sports big board for my mock.

* So to reiterate, I’m essentially tying my hands by drafting best player available in this exercise. Don’t be the guy that wonders why I went with who I went with, when I just told you exactly why I went with who I did. Capisci?

First Round - Pick 3: Myles Garrett, OLB, Texas A&M
Rumors out of Cleveland say that the Browns really love Garrett, but until we hear who they call, we have no way of knowing for sure. Maybe they meet with, and work out, North Carolina’s Mitch Trubisky and feel he’s “The Man.” Fingers crossed...

If the Browns pass on Garrett, would the 49ers follow suit? I doubt it, but you never can tell.

If this happens, there would be much rejoicing at Halas Hall.

Second Round - Pick 36: Christian McCaffery, RB, Stanford
Taking McCaffery here feels like something a good franchise would do. The Bears don’t need a running back with All-Rookie Jordan Howard ready to build off his 1,000 yard season, but McCaffery is a dynamic player with the ball in his hands. A thunder and lightening 1-2 punch of Howard and McCaffery would be very exciting.

Third Round - Pick 67: Obi Melifonwu, S, Connecticut
OK, this would be a dream scenario, but stranger things have happened. Melifonwu (6’4”, 219) is an athletic strong safety that was a 4 year starter in college. He may not have center-field type coverage skills, but he’s able to make up for it with his size and vertical.

Fourth Round - Pick 109: Fabian Moreau, CB, UCLA
I went down a couple spots in this BPA draft to snag Moreau, because I didn’t see interior o-line as a huge need for the Bears. Moreau is fairly new to the position, but he’s a physical athlete with press man experience. Scouts say he’s a bit grabby at times, but that’s something coaches can work on.

Fourth Round - Pick 115: Pat Elflein, C, Ohio State
I passed up Elflein once, but I couldn’t force myself to do it again. With current Bears’ Cody Whitehair, Hroniss Grasu and Ted Larsen all able to play center, this is a luxury pick. Then again, what if Grasu can’t come back from his injury? Also Elflein can play guard, so he’ll learn to back up all three interior spots as a pro.

Fifth Round - Pick 148: Stacy Coley, WR, Miami (Fla.)
Illinois’ edge rusher Carroll Phillips was tops on my board, but I decided to move one spot down to get a wide out, since I already grabbed an OLB in the 1st. Coley (6’1”) is a speedster with some return skills.

Seventh Round - Pick 224: Treyvon Hester, DL, Toledo
BPA said I should take Hester, so I took Hester. At 6’3”, 300 pounds he drew a lot of double teams while plugging up the middle of Toledo’s D. He may be stout enough to backup the nose and long enough to kick out to defensive end.

The elephant in the room is the quarterback position not being addressed, but BPA dictated I not go that way. A QB-free draft probably means the Bears signed their guy in free agency.

Do any of these picks intrigue you?