Chicago Bears Seven-Round 2017 Mock Draft: Going Deep
By Erik Lambert
The Chicago Bears brass did not sound happy when they spoke in their press conference about how the 2016 season ended.
Not surprising given it was a 3-13 finish. At the same time they offered plenty of optimism about the future. Namely in regards to their advantageous position in the 2017 NFL draft. For the first time since 1972 they hold a pick in the top three. GM Ryan Pace made it clear that he knows what’s at stake. When selecting that high, they have to land an “impact” player. Somebody who can change the landscape of their team almost single-handed.
Not as easy as it may sound. Still, the Bears have their best chance in years to really infuse this developing roster with significant talent. This latest mock draft will detail how they could go about it.
1st Round
player. 57. Ryan Pace knows John Fox and Vic Fangio are upset. They both come from a long history of defensive excellence. So watching this Bears unit continue to struggle in the secondary must be gnawing at their patience. It’s no secret how painfully lacking the team is in terms of playmakers on the back end. Just 11 takeaways in a season pretty much says it all. Until they start adding ball hawks, these problems are going to continue. <p>Malik Hooker is becoming a favorite in the scouting community, viewed as one of the best free safeties to come out of college in a decade. His mixture of size, speed, awareness, instinct and ball skills are on display constantly. In just his first year as a starter he snagged seven interceptions and returned three for touchdowns. His nose for the football jumps out on tape every single game. That is what the Bears crave for their secondary, and may have to use the #3 pick to get.</p>. FS. Ohio State. Malik Hooker . 1