Mocking the Mocks: Bears go offense in the latest Mel Kiper mock draft

The latest two round mock draft from ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. is one I could actually see happening for the Chicago Bears. He doesn’t have them moving up for a quarterback, which means 2021 will be the Andy Dalton show, and with them picking at 20th overall in the first round, that seems to be the way to go.

He does have the Bears getting some help for Dalton and the offense with a mauler up front and a track star at wide out. Here’s how Kiper mocked it in the first-round for Chicago.

Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State

Jenkins is the last of four offensive tackles on whom I have first-round grades. A three-year starter at right tackle for Oklahoma State, he’s outstanding in the run game. He’d fill the spot created by the release of Bobbie Massie. Chicago could also be in play for a pass-rusher, though it has put a lot of capital toward Khalil Mack and Robert Quinn. A young edge defender such as Jaelan Phillips could be a situational player as a rookie.

He may be the fourth tackle off his board, but with this deep class Jenkins is capable of stepping in and winning the right tackle job during training camp. He plays violently, yet he has the athleticism to protect the edge. Like most rookies, his technique needs some refinement, but there’s enough in his skill set to be the bully of an offense for years to come.

In the second round Kiper has the Bears taking a guy that could be the fastest player in the draft.

Anthony Schwartz, WR, Auburn

Chicago is another team to watch for Mills, and it has a hole at cornerback as well. With Anthony Miller’s future up in the air — he could be traded — Schwartz is a wideout who could take the top off the secondary and free up Allen Robinson in the red zone. Schwartz averaged just 11.8 yards per catch last season, but that was because of the way he was used; he has elite speed. New quarterback Andy Dalton will have to get better targets to hit on play-action deep balls.

His 4.26 forty at his pro day just confirmed what scouts already knew, that Schwartz has the potential to be a game changer at the next level.

He has decent size (6’, 186), he has experience lining up both outside and in the slot, and his 54 receptions led the Tigers a year ago. Auburn also used him as a runner on end arounds and jet sweeps as he had 42 rushes for 323 yards and 7 touchdowns during his three years there.

There were a few offensive linemen still on the board when he mocked Schwartz to the Bears (Samuel Cosmi from Texas, Dillon Radunz from North Dakota State, and Notre Dame’s Liam Eichenberg to name a few), but getting a high upside wide out seems like a Ryan Pace thing to do in the second-round.