Chicago Bears seven-round 2022 NFL Mock Draft
The Bears get some support for Justin Fields and targets reinforcements for the secondary
The Chicago Bears recently hired Chiefs’ Assistant Director of Player Personnel Ryan Poles as their new general manager. That marked the first step in Chicago’s long rebuild from the Ryan Pace era. The Bears have over $25 million in projected cap space and plenty of expiring contracts, but they only have two top 100 picks to help Justin Fields with. Let’s see how Chicago can turn things around.
I used The Draft Network’s mock draft machine to create this mock draft. I’ll use other simulators in the future, but The Draft Network’s is one of the most user-friendly, especially for those with premium access. I decided not to include trades in the mock because it’s still so early in the process. However, I’ll begin including trades when we get closer to March.
I’m hoping to run through at least one franchise each week, so keep an eye out for more seven-round mock drafts.
I’ve included “ideal selections” after the selections that were actually available in the simulator. You can essentially read this article as two different mocks, one with a realistic approach and one with an idealistic view of how the draft will play out. None of the ideal picks were available at the listed selections, but Bears fans probably hope they fall to them in the spring.
If you don’t agree with these selections, feel free to leave a comment below this article or reach out to me on Twitter @Sam_Teets33.
Round 2 (No. 39): Daniel Faalele, OT Minnesota
Ideal pick: Drake London, WR USC
Faalele is a gentle giant off the field, standing 6'8" and weighing 387 lbs. according to his Senior Bowl measurements. However, he transforms into a rumbling, destructive force once he puts the pads on. Faalele was a rugby player who only began playing football five years ago, and his frame makes him a hot commodity.
However, some technical parts of Faalele’s game remain raw because of his inexperience. His hand usage needs to improve significantly, and he’s prone to giving up leverage now and then. Luckily, the three-year starting right tackle has an excellent anchor and good movement skills for a player his size.
Mac Jones was the most successful rookie quarterback in 2021 because he had the best offensive line among the rookies who played significant snaps. Meanwhile, the Bears had a mismatched front featuring 39-year-old Jason Peters, Germain Ifedi, and fifth-round rookie Larry Borom. Chicago can do better.
Round 3 (No. 71): Jalen Tolbert, WR South Alabama
Ideal pick: Max Mitchell, OT Louisiana
Allen Robinson made it clear several years ago that he wasn’t happy with Chicago’s organization. The Bears retained him, but the former Pro Bowler wasn’t interested in his employer. He finished 2021 with 12 appearances, 38 receptions, 410 yards, and one touchdown, which are the second-lowest receiving totals of his career.
Robinson is a free agent this spring. It’s time for the Bears to let him go.
Tolbert quietly had one of the best seasons among all receivers in college football. The former two-star recruit caught 82 passes for 1,474 yards and eight touchdowns. He measured in at 6'1", 195 lbs. at the Senior Bowl. Tolbert immediately impressed the folks in Mobile, Ala., beating Georgia’s Derion Kendrick for a touchdown on his first rep in the one-on-ones.
Tolbert made another impressive 45-yard reception later that day, showcasing his ability to threaten defenses vertically.
Drops show up as an issue on Tolbert’s tape, and he could benefit from adding ten pounds to his frame, but the South Alabama star does a good job with his releases and performs well in contested catch situations. His long arms create an ideal catch radius that should help Justin Fields get away with a few mistakes.
Round 5 (No. 146): Sterling Weatherford, S/LB Miami (OH)
Ideal pick: Josh Jobe, CB Alabama
Weatherford measured in at 6'3", 230 lbs. in Mobile. He played safety for the RedHawks but is working out as a linebacker at the Senior Bowl. At worst, you’re getting one of the league’s most versatile special teams players by drafting Weatherford. He’s an older prospect that lacks elite athleticism, but I think Matt Eberflus has the creativity to play Weatherford in a variety of sub-package and situational roles.
Weatherford is a terrific downhill player with the ferocity to make jarring hits. His stiffness and limited speed showed up in college several times, but he only allowed 192 yards after the catch (YAC) in his college career. For reference, Alabama’s Jordan Battle allowed 226 YAC in almost 300 fewer defensive snaps.
Chicago safeties Deon Bush and Tashaun Gipson are free agents this offseason. I don’t envision Weatherford stepping in and taking starting snaps early in his career (especially if he moves to linebacker full-time), but there’s a role for him in Eberflus’ defense.
Round 5 (No. 148): Akayleb Evans, CB Missouri
Ideal pick: Thayer Munford, IOL Ohio St.
The Bears found a long-term starter when they drafted Jaylon Johnson in the second-round two years ago. The second-year Utah product was a revelation this season, but Chicago doesn’t have many other promising defensive backs. Rookie sixth-round pick Thomas Graham Jr. flashed potential, but he only played in four games.
Second-year fifth-round selection Kindle Vildor also showed some upside, but you can rarely go wrong when taking shots at premier positions like cornerback this late in the draft.
Evans spent his first four collegiate seasons at Tulsa before transferring to Missouri in 2021. He appeared in 11 games, playing just under 600 snaps. While he surrendered five touchdowns, Evans only allowed 271 yards and 84 YAC. I think he’s best fit for zone assignments in the NFL, but some buzz out of the Senior Bowl makes me excited about his potential in press coverage.
Evans was 6'1", 201 lbs. in Mobile. He had the third-longest arms of all defensive backs measured at the Senior Bowl and Shrine Bowl, which further supports his potential in press coverage. His transitions can look a little clunky at times, but the results are overwhelmingly positive so far.
Round 6 (No. 185): Chris Paul, IOL Tulsa
Ideal pick: Eyioma Uwazurike, IDL/EDGE Iowa St.
I’d argue for Chicago using more high picks on offensive linemen if they had more draft capital. Unfortunately, the Bears are working with limited flexibility to fill several significant positions of need. With most of the viable offensive tackles already gone this late in the draft, Chicago turns to adding interior help.
Paul could emerge as a steal for some franchise late in the draft. His 6'3", 324 lb. measurements from the Senior Bowl fit the profile of a guard at the NFL level, but he played all over the line at Tulsa. Paul spent his last two collegiate seasons at right tackle, with some reps coming at left tackle, after starting at right guard (2018) and left guard (2019) early in his career.
Paul’s hand usage is very polished, and he possesses the length and size to move people in the running game. His larger concerns come in pass protection, where his limited mobility, high pad level, and inconsistent anchor can cause problems. Sandwiching him between the center and a tackle limits some of these concerns.
Priority UDFAs
This was one of the shortest seven-round mock drafts I’ll write. I wanted to give Bears fans something else to look forward to, so I’ve added a few UDFAs from the mock draft simulator that Chicago might pursue.
Ty Fryfogle, WR Indiana
Fryfogle is 6'2" and weighs 205 lbs. He played about 45% of his snaps in the slot this past year. The fifth-year Indiana product broke out in 2020, averaging 19.5 yards per reception, but he only had four games with over 60 yards this past season.
Peyton Hendershot, TE Indiana
Hendershot (6'4", 254 lbs.) produced over 500 receiving yards in 2019 and 2021. He totaled four touchdowns in each of the past three years. Despite his size, Hendershot isn’t a premier blocking tight end. However, he’s capable of rumbling for yards after the catch.
Logan Bruss, IOL/OT Wisconsin
Bruss is a 6'5", 316 lb. bruiser typical of the Wisconsin program. He played right tackle in 2018, 2019, and 2021, but his role at right guard in 2020 unlocked his best projection to the NFL. He lacks the athleticism to play tackle full-time but could create movement inside, especially in the running game.
Tristan Nichols, EDGE Nevada
This past season was Nichols’ (6'4", 245 lbs.) first time playing over 200 snaps at the collegiate level. He excelled, amassing 46 pressures and ten sacks. That means Nichols applied pressure on about 13.9% of his reps as a pass rusher, which is above average.
Demetrius Taylor, EDGE Appalachian St.
Taylor is an older player who just finished his fifth season with Appalachian State. I thought he should’ve declared last year, but he returned for one final season. Over the past three years, Taylor has 36.5 tackles for loss, 124 pressures, and 20 sacks. The 6'1", 290 lb. defensive end possesses a tweener build and could reduce inside at the next level.
DaMarcus Fields, CB Texas Tech
Fields just wrapped up his fifth season with the Red Raiders. The 6'0", 200 lb. corner hasn’t intercepted a pass since 2019, and he allowed 24 touchdowns during his collegiate career (with over 550 snaps played each season). He tallied 11 passes defensed three times (2018, 2020, and 2021). Fields’ lack of athleticism and long speed could force him to transition to safety, especially for a Bears team losing several players at the position.