Mocking the Mocks: Bears get an EDGE and TE in the latest from The Draft Network

The Draft Network’s Jordan Reid dropped his latest mock draft earlier today and the Senior Draft Analyst has the Chicago Bears going in a popular direction. Several recent two round mocks have the Bears addressing tight end and outside linebacker, and Reid’s was no different, however the specifics were new.

Here’s how he had the Bears picking with their two second round selections.

43. Yetur Gross-Matos, EDGE, Penn State

50. Hunter Bryant, TE, Washington

Gross-Matos is a name we haven’t seen much, but that’s probably because a lot of mocks and NFL Draft pundits have him going in the first round. If the actual draft falls this way I can see general manager Ryan Pace plucking the athletic 6’5”, 265 pounder with the 43rd overall pick. He’s a good athlete, he has nice length, and he plays with a high motor, all traits that outweigh the rawness in his game. The last two years he racked up 34.5 tackles for loss and 17 sacks for the Nittany Lions.

At 6’2”, 239 pounds, Bryant will only be able to play the move tight end (the Bears’ U) role in the NFL, but he has the speed and athleticism to be a mismatch against linebackers and some safeties. Teams may need to put a corner on him, but then he can use his size and strength advantage to beat smaller players.

The Draft Network’s Jonah Tuls recently put out his own two-round mock, and here’s how he had the Bears picking in his exercise.

43. Zack Baun, EDGE, Wisconsin

50. Cole Kmet, TE, Notre Dame

Baun is an undersized pass rusher (6’3”, 240) that put up 12.5 sacks in 2019. Scouts love his hustle, but he’s also a good athlete with several moves to get free off the edge. He might be a third down player only until he can prove to be capable of playing better against the run.

Kmet is one of the top tights ends in the class and at 6’5”, 250, he brings more versatility than the aforementioned Bryant. He’d line up all over the offense for Notre Dame, and while he’s still more receiver than in-line blocker, he has the frame and the willingness to stick his nose in there and run block. He may not be able to play much Y as a rookie, but he has the upside to grow into the role.

Be sure to check out both of these mock drafts and let us know which one you’d like better if the real draft were to fall that way.