Chicago Bears 2018 Mock Off-Season: Time to Get Aggressive

Now for the coup de gras. Pace already added Jarvis Landry to the mix along with underappreciated talent Grant. Not to mention bringing back Meredith. One more bold stroke could put this Bears receiving corps on a new level. That’s where Calvin Ridley comes in. The Alabama product has been the passing offense for the Crimson Tide for two years now. Without him it’s hard to imagine where they’d be. Despite constant attention his speed, quickness, route running and strong hands have consistently made the plays when needed. He’s talented and battle-tested.. WR. Alabama. Calvin Ridley . 1. player. 57

One of the reasons Washington State became a contender in the Pac-12 this season was the improvement of their defense. By far the man most responsible for that was Hercules Mata’afa. The young pass rusher has terrorized opposing backfield this year. Not only does he have 9.5 sacks, he has 21.5 tackles for a loss. He’s not the longest defender in the world but he’s got power and quickness that make it beyond difficult to slow him down. He’s able to win both inside and outside, shrugging off blocks to create havoc.. OLB. Washington State. Hercules Mata'afa . 2. player. 57

57. Bryan is drawing comparisons to Broncos standout Derek Wolfe. He’s not a premier pass rusher at defensive tackle for Florida but his size, strength, and skill set look ideal for the 3-4 defensive end position. The Bears are still hopeful that Jonathan Bullard will fill that void alongside Akiem Hicks and Eddie Goldman. He hasn’t yet though. Bryan gives them depth, flexibility and competition.. DT. Florida. Taven Bryan . 3. player

OLB. Ohio State. Tyquan Lewis . 4. player. 57. People were expecting a breakout year from Tyquan Lewis this season. They didn’t get it. He battled injury issues and will likely finish with less sacks in 2017 than he had each of his previous two seasons. That’s bound to affect his stock. Still that doesn’t mean he isn’t worth an investment. Lewis is a talented athlete who continues to show flashes as a pass rusher. Wisconsin found that out in the Big Ten championship. Call this a low risk, high reward proposition.

57. Another year, another berth in the college football playoff. Mitch Hyatt gets criticized for not being big for a normal tackle and yet the man has loads of experience and loads of success. He’s a quality pass protector who finds a way to contribute in the running game as well. He’ll need to add weight and muscle for the NFL but that doesn’t mean he can’t be a quality blocker. The guy knows nothing but winning. That’s what the Bears need.. OT. Clemson. Mitch Hyatt . 4. player

57. Armani Watts is going to cause a furious debate. He’s 5’11” and not known for blazing speed. Yet a review of the tape reveals he’s always around the football. The guy has loads of instinct, good ball skills and plays with toughness and physicality. Chicago may be set at safety with Eddie Jackson and Adrian Amos but that’s not a tandem that looks irreplaceable at this point. Competition never hurts.. S. Texas A&M. Armani Watts . 5. player

WR. Iowa State. Allen Lazard . 5. player. 57. The Bears will have a couple of taller targets in Meredith and Inman who are both 6’3″. Even so they don’t have what can be called a truly big receiver. Allen Lazard is every bit of 6’5″ and almost 230 lbs. He’s not the fastest guy in the world but that doesn’t stop him from making his catches and getting his yards. This year alone he’s had big performances against Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and TCU. He also had two touchdowns against Iowa.

57. The Bears might be set at running back with Howard and Cohen but there is never any harm in trying to find other offensive playmakers. Justin Jackson has been a rock on offense for Northwestern with over 1,400 yard of total offense and nine touchdowns. He did a lot of that despite playing hurt early in the year and not having a lot of help around him. A good sign that he knows how to create production.. RB. Northwestern. Justin Jackson . 5. player

57. Props to Eddie Goldman for staying healthy for the most part in 2016. He’s been their lynch pin in run defense and a credible pass rush threat. That being said the Bears must at least consider finding some decent depth in case the injuries return for him. Daylon Mack isn’t on the same level in terms of athleticism and burst. However he’s got size, power and enough quickness to clog the middle so opponents can run.. NT. Texas A&M. Daylon Mack . 6. player