Mock Offseason April 2nd

*Trade* The Chicago Bears trade 1[14] to the Arizona Cardinals for 1[20] and 3[84]

Round 1

1[1] Houston Texans: QB Blake Bortles [UCF]
1[2] St. Louis Rams [Was]: WR Sammy Watkins [Clemson]
1[3] Jacksonville Jaguars: DE Jadeveon Clowney [South Carolina]
1[4] Cleveland Browns: QB Johnny Manziel [Texas A&M]
1[5] Oakland Raiders: OT Greg Robinson [Auburn]
1[6] Atlanta Falcons: OLB Khalil Mack [Buffalo]
1[7] Tampa Bay Buccaneers: TE Eric Ebron [UNC]
1[8] Minnesota Vikings: QB Teddy Bridgewater [Louisville]
1[9] Buffalo Bills: OT Jake Matthews [Texas A&M]
1[10] Detroit Lions: CB Justin Gilbert [Oklahoma St]
1[11] Tennessee Titans: OT Taylor Lewan [Michigan]
1[12] New York Giants: DT Aaron Donald [Pitt]
1[13] St. Louis Rams: S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix [Alabama]
1[14] Arizona Cardinals [Chi]: OLB Anthony Barr [UCLA]

1[20] NT Louis Nix III [Notre Dame] 6'2" 335lbs.

The Bears have gotten significantly better on the DL and specifically have improved at DE and the pass rush. But on the interior they still lack size, run stuffing, and depth. Louis Nix can come in and immediately start at NT and provide a dominant run stuffing DT that can protect the LBs and allow the DEs to focus more on rushing the passer. In addition to becoming the center piece to the run defense, an area of the defense that crippled the Bears last season, he is not simply a 1-2 down run stuffer. Nix has good hand use and can be a power rusher from the inside that collapses the pocket. Nix may not look like the perfect match for the system, but his presence can improve the defense in many areas. He also provides the versatility that Phil Emery has been talking about all offseason.



2[51] S Deonne Bucannon [Washington St] 6'1" 217lbs.

The Bears were simply not physical enough at the safety position last season. Teams would run at the Bears safeties with no fear, often carrying Wright and Conte down field for significant yardage. In the passing game teams attacked the middle of the field with impunity. Bucannon can step into the SS position an instantly add more size, physicality, and play making ability. Bucannon has his limitations in man coverage, but he is a hard hitter, a secure tackler and he generate turnovers. If asked to be aggressive and play in a zone he could be an exceptional addition at SS. Bucannon was one of the more feared hitters in NCAA football last season and that type of attitude and presence would be a welcome addition to the Bears defense.



3[82] CB Phillip Gaines [Rice] 6'1" 190lbs.

Rumors have connected the Bears to the CB position and it makes a ton of sense considering that the Bears top 3 CBs are all over 30, 2 are on 1 year contracts, and 2 of them are coming off seasons on IR. There were also rumors last season that the Bears were looking to take Desmond Trufant at 20 is Long had not fallen to them. Gaines is a solid athlete, he is incredibly physical, and he has #1 CB type potential with his ability to disrupt WRs. Gaines can provide incredible depth, possibly start at nickle back and can replace Charles Tillman in 2015. Pass rushers and CBs are the position on defense where you cannot have enough depth.



3[84] C Travis Swanson [Arkansas] 6'5" 312lbs.

The Bears need a center of the future and they need increased depth on the interior OL. Swanson can come in and learn behind Garza for a season, while providing depth at OG and C. Swanson has the size to fit in with the Bears OL and he has been battle tested against the elite DL talent of the SEC. The final piece to the offense is the C position and the Bears will not have free agent money to spend on the offense with Cutler's deal, and when they re-sign Jeffery and Marshall.



4[117] Yawin Smallwood [UConn] 6'3" 246lbs.

Outside of a terrible 40 time, Smallwood is the type of LB the Bears need. He is tough, physical, has good size, and is an adept blitzer. He can come in and work behind D.J Williams at MLB and provide physicality on running downs. Smallwood as a 4th round pick can also come off the field on 3rd downs and obvious passing downs without it making him a poor value pick.



5[156] QB Aaron Murray [Georgia] 6'1" 215lbs.

The Bears should take a developmental QB and allow the QB whisperer to work with him for a couple of years. Aaron Murray might not have ideal height, but he has a good arm, a ton of top level experience, and he makes quick decisions with the ball. Give Trestman a couple of seasons with Murray and perhaps he will be the long term replacement for Cutler, a great back up, or even a valuable trade chip.



6[183] TE A.C Leonard [Tennessee State] 6'3" 245lbs.

A top recruit at Florida, but off field issues led him to Tennessee St. A high level athlete that has rough edges as a route runner and will need work and off field support. Leonard can come in and be developed as the flex TE that the Bears need. The Bears took a similar player in Marquess Wilson last season and it looks like it will pay dividends.



6[191] RB James White [Wisconsin] 5'9" 205lbs.

If the Bears are going to go with a cheap and unproven back up RB than they need more depth. White is a powerful runner despite his lack of size and he is a competent receiver. White can come in and contribute on special teams while providing depth and a potential 3rd down presence.



QB: Cutler, Murray, Palmer
RB: Forte, Ford, White
FB: Fiammetta
WR: Marshall, Jeffery, Wilson, Hixon, Tolliver
TE: Bennett, Rosario, Leonard
LT: Bushrod
LG: Slauson, Brown
C: Garza, Swanson
RG: Long, Boggs
RT: Mills, Britton

RE: Allen, Young, Bass
DT: Ratliff, Idonije Collins
NT: Nix, Paea
LE: Houston, Washington
SLB: Bostic, McClellin, Franklin
MLB: Williams, Smallwood
WLB: Briggs, Greene
CB: Tillman, Jennings, Gaines, Frey, McManis, Hayden
FS: Conte/Mundy, Jennings
SS: Bucannon, Steltz

I'd really like another DT in the draft somewhere, but positions drafted where they are looks good to me.

Britton isn't signed yet...

You really think Nix makes it past Pittsburgh?

Not ideal, but if Ha Ha and Donald are off the board in the first and Ward is off the board in the second...I'd be okay with it.

Really like the Murray and AC Leonard picks from you here.

I like Gaines but I think you over drafted him by a round. I think we can get a better player than him in that slot. The AC Leonard pick is interesting considering he is the fastest TE in the draft class and started out at Florida.

i really don't understand why you would take a player who doesn't fit a one gap scheme at all. nix is a two gap player. all the way. he would be utterly wasted in a one gap system. nose tackle in a one gap scheme is about as important as a center for the o-line. taking a nose tackle in the first round, he better be a special player and he better FIT YOUR SYSTEM.

taking nix would be like a team that runs a zone blocking scheme taking a power blocking guard in the first round.

Like AC Leonard, don't like a center that high

ZenBear34 said:

i really don't understand why you would take a player who doesn't fit a one gap scheme at all. nix is a two gap player. all the way. he would be utterly wasted in a one gap system. nose tackle in a one gap scheme is about as important as a center for the o-line. taking a nose tackle in the first round, he better be a special player and he better FIT YOUR SYSTEM.

taking nix would be like a team that runs a zone blocking scheme taking a power blocking guard in the first round.

Click to expand...

The Bears will be working in some 2 gap and Nix can play one gap

Definitely like the idea of trading down to 20 but I'm not a big fan of Nix. I think CJ Mosley at that 20 spot would be the steal of the draft.

ZenBear34 said:

i really don't understand why you would take a player who doesn't fit a one gap scheme at all. nix is a two gap player. all the way. he would be utterly wasted in a one gap system. nose tackle in a one gap scheme is about as important as a center for the o-line. taking a nose tackle in the first round, he better be a special player and he better FIT YOUR SYSTEM.

taking nix would be like a team that runs a zone blocking scheme taking a power blocking guard in the first round.

Click to expand...

Look beyond his size and he's quite capable of playing well in a one gap scheme. Although Nix gets compared most often to Wilfork, he's a far more aggressive penetrator than Wilfork was coming out of college.

Having a physically over powering NT allows a defense to do so much more.

-Protects the LBs in the run game.
-Allows the DEs to focus on rushing the passer.
-Allows you to blitz more without worrying about being out manned.
-Can physically collapse the pocket taking away he step up.

I'd rather take Jernigan if we trade down to 20 and i'd change the Swanson pick to a MLB. Maybe S.Skov if he makes it that far or i think that Jordan Tripp kid could be a steal in the 4th or 5th. I'd also be cool with CJ.Mosely in the 1st or C.Borland in the 2nd. As you can see i really want a MLB cause if/when DJ Williams goes down then we're gonna be screwed at MLB.

Nix isn't an ideal one-gap but ND played a decent amount of 4 man fronts in passing situations with Nix playing the one gap and he was highly disruptive. I think in 2012 he led ND in pass deflections.

If The Bears are going to go to more multiple fronts that increases Nix's value to them as well because he did a lot of it in college.

I don't mind Gaines in the third, but if a guy like Stanley Jean-Baptiste were still on the board I would prefer that. Obviously I have a little Nebraska homer in me, but I believe he will become a great pro. Beside that I like this draft, the only other thing is I would love to see Dri Archer or DeAnthony Thomas instead of White. I think White is a better RB, but Dri and DeAnthony bring a return dimension and add a true speed back to the back field.

I really wouldn't mind this at all, Nix is a high motor guy and very solid right in the middle. Often thought in goal line stands the Bears were at a serious disadvantage with no big horses to stone the middle. Would love to see Ratliff and Nix in the middle, would be a very solid tackle front.

NO LOVE FOR COLT LYERIA??..I honestly think he'd be the perfect 2nd TE. He has all the tools to be a swiss army knife for the bears.
- Can play Fullback
-Great hand & eye coordination
- Play power RB
-Line up in slot
- Gains yac
-Nice speed
-Nice route running
-6'4 255
I know he's had off the field issues but i believe the bears have a strong locker room to help him stay focused and hone his craft. He would also have a former team mate in Kyle Long from Oregon to keep him cool. No doubt if he didnt have those off field issues he'd be a top TE in this draft. I think Trestman would be ecstatic to have a weapon to add to the fire power we already have. He has great upside.

reached for Gaines, took a center way to high, and i guess trade back if Donald and HaHa are gone, but idk who would want to trade the bears for the 14th pick

swap out swanson with daquan jones DT who is also versatile in playing both the NT and 3 tech spots...it would be a great draft if it really happened this way...I dont see any centers in this draft that are going to be game changing centers.