Chicago Bears 7-round BPA Mock Draft

There’s no telling what Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Pace will do when it comes to the 2021 NFL Draft, but he’s gone on record several times talking about how he believes in taking the best player available. Sticking 100% true to your board isn’t the smartest way to run a franchise, but it’s with that philosophy that I took into my latest theme mock draft for the Bears.

Keep in mind that I use mock drafts as an exercise to learn more about prospects that the Bears could draft and not as a predictive tool to guess what the Bears will do. My previous theme was an all offensive line mock, and I have a few other fun ones planned in the coming weeks.

My latest theme is all about BPA, meaning I took the player that was sitting at the top of the board every time it was the Bears turn to pick. My only real rules this time out was no double dipping on a position that I already drafted, no running backs until day three, and no trading.

Here’s my full 7-round BPA mock draft that I did with the sim at Pro Football Network.

• First Round, 20th Overall: Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech

Farley recently underwent a “minor” procedure on his back, which could have some teams dropping him down their boards, but on tape alone Farley is a first round talent for sure. I was hoping an offensive tackle would have been the BPA here, but with the Bears recently cutting Kyle Fuller, I could totally see Ryan Pace adding a corner.

Jacob Infante, our lead draft analyst, has a Farley has his 13th overall prospect in the 2021 NFL Draft, and here’s some of what he said about Farley in his NFL Draft Guide. (Hit that link to pick yours up now!)

Even without a 2020 season, Farley proved to be a physically gifted cornerback with fantastic length, ball skills, and fluidity. He would fit best as a boundary corner in a man heavy scheme.

Jacob also recently had a chance to talk with Farley at his pro day, and you check that out here.

• Second Round, 52nd Overall: Ronnie Perkins, OLB, Oklahoma

With no offensive lineman sitting atop the board in this round either I started to worry, but rules are rules and another pass rusher would be a welcome addition to the Bears. Perkins had 16.5 sacks and 32 tackles for loss in 32 games with the Sooners the last three years, and he could be a nice replacement for Robert Quinn once the Bears can rid themselves of that contract.

• Third Round, 83rd Overall: Dillon Radunz, OT, North Dakota State

While I’m not so sure Radunz will last until the third round in the real draft, he did on this mock board, so I finally nabbed an offensive lineman. Radunz had a nice week at the Senior Bowl, and while he’s a better run blocker than a pass blocker, he’s athletic enough to get better blocking off the edge.

• Fifth Round, 164th Overall: Austin Watkins, WR, UAB

It’s another deep class at wide receiver, so getting a guy on day three that can compete and play as a rookie is a definite possibility. Watkins has good size at 6’1 1/2” and 207 pound, and his athleticism shines on film. FYI: Jacob has a third round grade on Watkins.

• Sixth Round, 204th Overall: Riley Cole, LB, South Alabama

Cole has played both outside and inside linebacker in college, so he could provide some versatility as a reserve/special teamer in the NFL. Jacob gives Riley a 5th round grade.

• Sixth Round, 208th Overall: Larry Borom, OG, Missouri

Since Borom (6’5”, 350) projects more to guard than tackle, I stayed with him as BPA on this exercise. He’ll need to tighten up his technique to make an NFL roster, but a savvy o-line coach like Juan Castillo may be what he needs. Borom is Jacob’s 184th overall prospect on his big board.

• Sixth Round, 221st Overall: Quintin Morris, TE, Bowling Green

Morris is one of those players that always pops up for the Bears when I run these draft simulations, and I could see the Bears taking a flier on him in the real draft. He’d be a U tight end in the Bears system, and at 6’2 1/4″ and 251 pounds, with a 4.58 forty time, he may develop into a legit contributor. Jacob has him down as his 10th tight end overall in this class.

• Sixth Round, 228th Overall: Israel Mukuamu, S, South Carolina

I’m glad a safety came up in this BPA mock, because the Bears need some youth at the position. The athletic 6’4”, 212 pounder would be an intriguing day three prospect.

Can you see any of these picks in my BPA only mock landing with the Bears?