Mocking the Mocks: Chicago’s needs addressed in this 3-rounder

While it’s fun seeing what the draftniks have the Chicago Bears doing in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, it’s even more fun when the mocks dive further down the board and include multiple rounds.

The latest mock draft from Zack Patraw, the President of The NFL Draft Bible on Sports Illustrated, goes a full three rounds, and unlike some recent mocks floating around out there, Zack’s seems to have a solid grasp on what the Bears truly need.

With his mock having five quarterbacks off the board before the Bears pick in the first round, he has them going in the only direction that makes sense.

20 Chicago Bears: OT Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech

This is a bit of a drop for a prospect as talented as Darrisaw. The Bears will likely be running to the podium to add him to their offensive line, which needs a massive upgrade. Darrisaw could step in on day one of the NFL season and provide a spark.

The term “plug and play” is thrown around too casually this time of year, but Darrisaw is a guy that could immediately step in and play right tackle for the Bears if they decide to save a little money and cut Bobby Massie. He could potentially slide over to the left side when the Bears move on from Charles Leno Jr. too.

If the Bears can address offensive tackle at 20, that opens things up for them in the second round, and this mock has them tackling another need by picking Florida quarterback Kyle Trask with the 52nd pick.

Here’s some of their scouting report on Trask.

Boasting a big frame with above average arm strength, Trask displays velocity, driving the football outside the numbers with relative ease. He is a tough dude inside of the pocket, staying cool and calm under pressure.

Despite having a good head on his shoulders, Trask can be victim to some puzzling decision-making due to his lack of experience. He struggles at times to work off his first read, forcing the ball into adverse situations. As an athlete, Trask is never going to threaten much outside of structure.

In this draft scenario I would assume the Bears would have picked up another quarterback via free agency or trade, because Trask isn’t a guy that you’d want to play as a rookie, but he has some tools you can develop.

In the third round of Patraw’s mock, he has the Bears going back to the o-line and taking one of my favorite players in the draft, Quinn Meinerz of UW-Whitewater.

Meinerz was a guard in college, but he’s been working out as a center to add to his versatility. He proved he belongs with the top o-line prospects during his week at the Senior Bowl and he would be a welcome addition to the Bears o-line room.

What are your thoughts on this potential three-round draft haul for Chicago?