The Chicago Bears have moved with relative reserve this offseason, but a blockbuster trade on NFL draft day less than a week and a half from now could be the mode by which the franchise resumes the aggressive approach it took to team building last year.
Bill Barnwell of ESPN suggested on Tuesday, April 14 that Chicago use its No. 25 pick in Round 1, along with one of its two second-rounders (Nos. 57 and 60), to propel itself in front of the Detroit Lions at pick 17 and secure a much-needed upgrade to the defensive line — namely a pass-rusher off the edge.
“By the Jimmy Johnson chart, packaging No. 25 with the 60th pick they landed from the Bills should be enough to get the Bears up to No. 16, where the Jets could be interested in trading down and adding more selections,” Barnwell wrote. “They would also jump the Lions in the process, a division rival who should be looking at edge-rushers with their first selection.”
While the logic is sound across Barnwell’s proposal, the Bears’ end goal should perhaps be different from what he suggests.
Mina Kimes, Barnwell’s colleague at ESPN, has been adamant that there is a top tier of edge-rushers that includes three players: David Bailey, Arvell Reese and Rueben Bain Jr. Wherever those three come off the board, all will be long gone by the mid-way point of the first round.
Moving up nine spots might afford Chicago a player like Keldric Faulk or Akheem Mesidor, but one or both could viably fall to No. 25. If neither does, a player of similar talent and upside within the second tier of prospects at the position, such as TJ Parker or Zion Young, should be there for the Bears.
Trade With Eye on Left Tackle Monroe Freeling Makes Most Sense for Bears
GettyGeorgia Bulldogs left tackle Monroe Freeling.
As such, a more cogent goal might be for Chicago to leapfrog the Lions and target a player at what is arguably each team’s second-greatest position need — a starting offensive tackle, specifically on the left side of the line.
Detroit released Taylor Decker earlier this offseason upon his request, and the Lions might decide to move superstar right tackle Penei Sewell to QB Jared Goff’s blindside this year. That would open up all options for Detroit in terms of prospects at the position, as there is more top talent at right tackle than left tackle in this year’s class.
The Bears, meanwhile, remain set on the right side with second-team All-Pro tackle Darnell Wright, who is not migrating left this winter — or during any other campaign in the near future. That puts Chicago firmly in play for the best left tackle prospect in this class, which is Monroe Freeling out of Georgia, according to Dane Brugler of The Athletic.
“A starter for one-and-a-half years at Georgia, Freeling settled in at left tackle in offensive coordinator Mike Bobo’s balanced gap/zone scheme,” Brugler wrote. “An ascending prospect, Freeling passes the eye test with his frame, length and movements off the ball.”
Bears Perhaps Best Served by Staying Put in Round 1, Drafting Caleb Lomu or Best Available Pass-Rusher
GettyLeft tackle Caleb Lomu of the Utah Utes.
Both Chicago and Detroit can supplement their pass-rush groups with capable, stopgap veterans this offseason, so reaching for one above his value at No. 17 makes minimal sense for Detroit.
It is even less sensical for the Bears to trade up just to select a player higher than his draft grade, which would be the case with any edge-rusher Chicago might take at No. 16 other than Faulk, who could fall down the board regardless based on the needs of teams selecting in the mid-to-late teens.
The Bears can also stay at home at No. 25 if they like left tackle Caleb Lomu out of Utah, who Brugler ranks as the 25th-best player on his big board.
Mesidor and Parker are the 28th and 31st overall prospects, respectively, per The Athletic. So it really only makes sense for Chicago to move up if the Bears can’t live without Freeling and believe the Lions will select him at No. 17 if they don’t jump ahead.
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