Mocking the Mocks: Mel Kiper has the Bears going offensive line

The O.G. draftnik, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr., has revealed his first mock for the 2021 NFL Draft, and he has the Chicago Bears going in a familiar direction by addressing the offensive line. Kiper’s fifth offensive lineman off his board in the first round heads to the Bears in this mock in Oklahoma State’s Teven Jenkins.

Here’s what he had to say about the pick.

This is a really strong offensive tackle class, and we could see a run on them in the 20s. Jenkins started at both right tackle and left tackle for the Cowboys, and he was having a stellar season before he opted out in late November. At 6-foot-6, 310 pounds, he has long arms and there are no questions about his size to play tackle. In Chicago, he could start immediately on the right side, where Germain Ifedi is a free agent, and be the long-term replacement to Charles Leno at left tackle. The Bears could also be in the market for a top receiver with Allen Robinson headed to free agency.

Jenkins definitely looks the part, and he has plenty of experience. He started a few games as a redshirt freshman in 2017, but was a full time starter his final three years with the Cowboys.

Jacob Infante, our lead draft analyst, has Jenkins as his 48th rated prospect on his big board, and his number seven offensive tackle in the deep class. Jacob calls Jenkins a “big, nasty blocker with good body control, powerful hands and a mean streak. I like him in round two, but I wouldn’t be shocked at all if he goes round one.”

For those wondering, Kiper had five quarterbacks going him the first 15 picks, with Alabama’s Mac Jones coming off the board to the Patriots at 15.

There were no other offensive linemen taken after the Bears at 20, and here are the four he had going in front of Jenkins, Oregon’s Penei Sewell, Northwestern’s Rashawn Slater, Virginia Tech’s Christian Darrisaw, and USC’s Alijah Vera-Tucker.

How would you feel if the real draft fell this way for the Bears?