Everything you need to know about the NFL draft, which starts Thursday, and the Bears’ role in it:
When is the draft?
Round 1 starts at 7 p.m. Thursday. Rounds 2 and 3 are Friday night, with the first pick coming at 6. Rounds 4-7 begin at 11 a.m. Saturday.
Where is the draft?
In Pittsburgh, outside the Steelers’ Stadium. What started conference rooms has expanded to fan events across the country. The NFL moved the draft out of its New York home in 2015, starting a two-year stay at the Auditorium Theatre. Since leaving Chicago, the draft has been held in Philadelphia, Dallas, Nashville, Cleveland, Las Vegas, Kansas City, Detroit and Green Bay. The 2020 draft was held virtually because of the coronavirus.
Where will be the Bears be?
All NFL teams keep their decision-makers at home for the draft. The Bears’ draft room, on the second floor of Halas Hall, will be run by general manager Ryan Poles and coach Ben Johnson, with assistant GM Jeff King, front office personnel, scouts and assistant coaches contributing when needed.
The team is throwing a draft party for fans from 6-10 p.m. at Soldier Field, with current and former players expected to attend.
Where can I watch the draft?
On ABC-7, ESPN and NFL Network.
When do the Bears pick?
They hold the 25th overall pick in Round 1; No. 57 and 60 in Round 2; No. 89 in Round 3; No. 129 in Round 4; and No. 239 and No. 241 in Round 7. The Bears acquired Pick 60 from the Bills in the DJ Moore trade, Pick 129 from the Rams on a draft-day trade last year and Pick 239 from the Browns in last season’s Joe Tryon-Shoyinka deal.
Poles is notorious for trading back, particularly on Days 2 and 3. Don’t be surprised if the Bears find a way to land a pick — or two — between No. 129 and 239 by moving back in Rounds 2, 3 or 4.
Let me rephrase: what time do they pick?
Last year’s No. 25 overall pick was made just before 10 p.m. This year, there are only eight minutes between selections, rather than 10. So maybe around 9:15 Thursday? It’s an inexact science.
That seems late.
The Bears haven’t drafted this deep into Round 1 since 2011, when they took Gabe Carimi 29th. They didn’t have first-round picks in 2019 or 2020 after trading for edge rusher Khalil Mack, or in 2022 after trading up to draft quarterback Justin Fields.
Weren’t they supposed to have an extra Round 3 pick?
When the Bears lost then-assistant GM Ian Cunningham to the Falcons’ GM job, they argued they were entitled to a compensatory third-round pick in 2026 and another in 2027 as part of an NFL program that rewards teams who develop — and then lose — minority head coach and GM candidates. The NFL ruled, though, that the Falcons’ lead decision-maker was president of football Matt Ryan and not Cunningham, and denied the Bears the compensatory picks. The Bears appealed in person, flying to the NFL’s offices in New York City, but to no avail. That selection would have been the last pick of Round 3 in this year’s draft.
Who will the Bears pick Thursday night?
The Bears’ first-round pick figures to be a defensive lineman, offensive tackle or safety. Most experts believe that the Bears should have their choice of a few different starting edge rushers if they keep their pick at No. 25. Read the Sun-Times’ final mock draft here.
What about the (dare I say) Packers?
They don’t have a first-round pick. They traded their selection, No. 20, to the Cowboys in the Micah Parsons deal on the eve of last season. The division rival Lions pick 17th and the Vikings 18th.
Who’s going first overall?
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza will be the Raiders’ first choice. The last Hoosier picked first overall was Corbett Davis in 1937.