Chicago Bears: Five potential first-round targets in 2021 NFL Draft
The 2021 Chicago Bears are going to look a lot different from last year’s team after an offseason that included quite a bit of turnover. Names like Mitchell Trubisky, Kyle Fuller, and Roy Robertson-Harris have all found new homes, and the list may not end there when it’s all said and done. Tashaun Gipson and Cordarrelle Patterson are two more free agents that were key contributors for the Bears last season and have yet to be signed to new deals.
The team has made a few signings to make up for some of these losses with the most notable being a one-year deal for veteran quarterback, Andy Dalton. This move has not been received well by the Chicago faithful, as they had higher hopes due to the team’s reported attempt for Russell Wilson. The attempt was for not, however, which leaves the Chicago Bears in an interesting spot when it comes to their quarterback depth chart going forward.
Andy Dalton joins Nick Foles as the only two quarterbacks on the roster, which could leave the door open for the Bears to potentially draft a young QB to add to the mix in the 2021 NFL Draft. The two veterans may not be ideal options as starters, but both of them fit the bill as ideal bridge quarterbacks for a prospect that may need a year to develop.
Unfortunately, the Chicago Bears aren’t positioned to land any of the first-round prospects at the position. Right now, the team won’t be on the clock until 19 other teams have already made their picks, so if they do have a guy in mind, they would need to make a significant trade-up to get him.
With their options being so limited, I think the odds are that they keep their slot at 20 and turn their attention to adding talent at another position of need. While quarterback may be the most talked-about issue, the Chicago Bears also have holes on the offensive line, wide receiver, edge rusher, and inside linebacker. Let’s dive into a few prospects that could be waiting for them with the 20th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.