Chicago Bears 2019 Mock Offseason: Stretching the dollars

3 of 3

3rd Round – Miles Sanders (RB, Penn State)

Even though the Bears chose not to trade Jordan Howard this offseason, that doesn’t stop them from seeking out options at running back. He’s a free agent in 2020 and the odds of him re-signing are remote. So Pace goes after Sanders who had a strong year at Penn State last season. His style of play is about quickness and instincts.

He isn’t easy to bring down and shows he can navigate traffic to find holes to the second level. The combine also proved he has more speed than he gets credit for. Sanders wasn’t used much in the passing game in college, but he has the capability to be a factor there. Think of him as a bigger, slightly slower version of Tarik Cohen.

4th Round – Yodny Cajuste (OT, West Virginia)

More from NFL Mocks

Bobby Massie is back and the Bears tackle positions appear set for the time being. That’s good. However, it’s no excuse to stop investing in the position. One of the biggest reasons Will Grier was so prolific at West Virginia as QB was he had Yodny Cajuste as his left tackle. The kid has size, length, and shows the footwork necessary to handle fast pass rushers. His mechanics are inconsistent though, something Harry Hiestand should fix easy enough.

5th Round – Drew Sample (TE, Washington)

Dion Sims was supposed to be the primary blocking tight end for the Bears but he never lived up to the billing. Having a good one brings lots of value to an offense. Drew Sample was a big part of Washington’s success in the running game. He embraces the responsibility as a blocker and has some physicality to him. This overshadows his athletic upside as a pass catcher too.

7th Round (via PHI) – Ben Banogu (EDGE, TCU)

Banogu wasn’t the main story down at the Senior Bowl, but if people watched practices he tended to flash often as a pass rusher. His body type and athleticism hint at a likely future as a 3-4 outside linebacker. He’s got quickness and solid explosion but hasn’t yet learned the intricacies of how to rush the quarterback. If given time, Pagano may unlock something more.

7th Round – Ashton Dulin (WR, Malone)

Everybody knows the rule with small school prospects. They need to dominate their level of competition in order to be taken seriously by the NFL. Ashton Dulin did that at Malone. Not only was his size-speed combination too much for defenses as a receiver, but he also gashed opponents constantly as a kick returner. There is a load of potential with him on offense and special teams.

Undrafted free agent – Matt Gay (K, Utah)

It’s no secret the Bears are in search of a long-term solution at kicker. Cody Parkey was a massive failure. Odds are Pace shies away from the veteran market this time and seeks out an option in the 2019 rookie class. Matt Gay could be drafted but it’s not a lock by any stretch. He’s got leg strength, accuracy, and is used to kicking in less than perfect conditions.

Home/NFL Free Agency