Last week, The Athletic’s Dane Brugler dropped his mammoth NFL Draft guide, “The Beast,” and yesterday they published his full seven-round mock where he made every pick while focusing on each team’s needs, league-wide draft trends, and fits for all 32 organizations.
Here’s how he mocked it for the Chicago Bears.
10. Chicago Bears: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
This is a pairing that grew on me the more and more I considered it. Ben Johnson runs a decent amount of “12” personnel, which would get both Warren and Cole Kmet on the field (Kmet also has no guaranteed money left on his deal after this season). Warren can be for Chicago what Sam LaPorta was to Detroit the last two seasons.
For the fans who are against taking a tight end at ten, don’t think of Warren’s position, because Ben Johnson will move him around the offense to find mismatches. Warren would play in two tight sets, but he’d be flexed, in the backfield, or split out wide. He’d go in motion, execute wam blocks, and be schemed up on play action. The Bears would run more “12” than “11” if they had a dynamic tight end like Warren to pair with Kmet, with DJ Moore and Rome Odunze also on the field.
Here is the remainder of Brugler’s mock for the Bears.
2 (39). RB TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State
2 (41). OT Aireontae Ersery, OT, Minnesota
3 (72). Edge Jack Sawyer, Ohio State
5 (148). S Jaylen Reed, Penn State
7 (233). LB Cody Lindenberg, Minnesota
7 (240). DT Kyonte Hamilton, Rutgers
Fans are expecting the Bears to find a big back to pair with D’Andre Swift, because of Detroit’s Sonic & Knuckles pairing, but I’m down with giving Johnson the best back available. Henderson has speed, he can pass block, and has good hands. The Bears can rely on their revamped interior to make room on third and inches.
Hamilton is a good athlete who can shoot a gap, but his wrestling background and strength give him the leverage to hold his ground.
This draft hit on Chicago’s needs while staying relatively true to the board.
How would you like it if this were how the Bears draft shook out?