Mocking the Mocks: Would the Bears pass on Justin Fields at 20?

While the Chicago Bears are going to get brought up in each trade rumor circulating regarding a quarterback, it’s certainly possible that the Bears will strike out on every obvious veteran upgrade out there. They may also pass on adding a QB in free agency, which would leave the NFL Draft as their only option to upgrade.

Most analysts and mock drafters have all the top quarterback prospects gone before the Bears are set to pick with the 20th overall selection, but what if one of the top guys slip to them?

In the latest mock draft from the NFL.com’s Charley Casserly, he only has three quarterbacks off the board before the Bears come up at 20. He also only has four offensive linemen gone before Chicago’s turn in the first round, but he has the Bears passing on their two most glaring needs and going with a wide receiver.

Pick 20 · Chicago Bears
Kadarius Toney · Florida · WR · Senior

If the Bears keep Allen Robinson and add Toney — a better prospect than Minnesota’s budding star Justin Jefferson was a year ago — they’ll all of a sudden have a formidable receiving corps.

Jacob Infante, our Lead Draft Analyst, weighed in with his take on Casserly’s pick on Twitter.

“Jacob and I are in complete alignment on this one - Toney will make some amazing plays, but Chicago has some foundational needs at 20 before going that direction,” says our Senior Draft Analyst, EJ Snyder.

So with Toney a bit of a reach for the Bears at 20 according to our two experts, it makes sense to look at the next few picks on this mock.

Oklahoma State’s Teven Jenkins, a plug and play offensive tackle, goes at 21 in his mock to the Colts, and at 22 he has Michigan offensive tackle Jalen Mayfield going to the Titans. I’d rather have either one of those linemen over Toney, but his mock has one other guy falling to 24th overall, Ohio State quarterback, Justin Fields.

Fields will be one of the more scrutinized QBs this year, partly because of the offense he runs and partly because of the history Buckeye quarterbacks have has as professionals, but Fields has put up incredible numbers in leading one of college football’s best teams the last two years.

There are no guarantees in the NFL Draft, but the Bears, a franchise that is in desperate need to find The Man at QB, has no business passing on a guy that has that kind of upside.

If the Bears do pass on a QB in the first round, it sure as Hell better be for an offensive lineman and not a wide out.

How would you want to see the Bears draft if the actual board fell like this?