NFL draft season is a bit harder for Bears fans to participate in this year with Ryan Pace’s first pick coming at 87th overall, but thankfully there are draft writers who put out seven-round mock drafts more than four months before the actual event.
Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller gave his predictions now that the draft order is locked in after the Super Bowl, and he has Chicago addressing a need with their first pick and bringing in more weapons for Mitchell Trubisky in the later rounds.
With that third-round pick, he has the Bears taking Central Michigan cornerback Sean Bunting, an athletic prospect with good length who plays somewhat unrefined from a technique standpoint.
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Another look at Sean Bunting's interception, Chippewas lead 3-0 early in the second quarter. #FireUpChips pic.twitter.com/UN8KI75K3c
Over the last two seasons for the Chippewas, he picked off seven passes with 10 pass breakups and four forced fumbles. He would fit right in with this Bears defense.
In the fourth-round, the mock draft gives the Bears Kentucky running back Benny Snell Jr.
There goes that man. @benny_snell #SnellYeah pic.twitter.com/n7vEHRDVXm
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He’s the Wildcats all-time leading rusher after just three seasons, but he wasn’t used much as a receiver, drawing questions about his upside in the passing game.
Baylor wide receiver Jalen Hurd is the Bears pick in the fifth-round of this mock after his strong showing at the Senior Bowl. Listed at 6-foot-4, 229 pounds, he played running back at Tennessee for three seasons before transferring to Baylor and moving to receiver.
Jalen Hurd wasted no time scoring his first touchdown at wide receiver for Baylor.
: Fox Sports Southwest pic.twitter.com/5OPMKFpUK3
His lack of experience at the position leaves him a little bit raw, but it’s easy to fall in love with his potential as a versatile weapon.
The mock draft wraps up in the seventh round with Charleston defensive lineman John Cominsky, a Division-II prospect who also earned a trip to the Senior Bowl and is drawing a lot attention as a small-school player to watch.
Pace has a history of finding gems in the later rounds, and a guy like Cominsky could be next in line if the Bears pull the trigger.