Chicago Bears: Late-round sleeper targets in the 2021 NFL Draft

4. Tay Gowan, CB, UCF

After the surprising release of Kyle Fuller this offseason, the Chicago Bears cornerback position suddenly becomes a notable need heading into the 2021 NFL Draft. Their top corners at the moment are high 2020 rookie standout, Jaylon Johnson, and veterans Desmond Trufant and Artie Burns, who both signed one-year deals with the team in free agency.

If they don’t address the position with one of their early picks, Tay Gowan could be a really nice get on Day-3. Gowan opted out of his final season at UCF, so he really only played one full season of Division I college football.

That’s really the only reason I think he may be available for the Bears in the later rounds because his skillset is right up there in that tier-2 cornerback range.

He’s long, fast, and perfectly built to play outside in today’s NFL. He plays a physical game and has shown plenty of ball skills in his limited sample size. If he’s available at 165, this would be a home run pick.

5. Tommy Kraemer, OT/IOL, Notre Dame

The later rounds of the NFL Draft are perfect for nabbing experienced players that may not have the physical gifts of the blue-chip guys at the top of the class, but make up for it with completive toughness and IQ. That is exactly what the Chicago Bears would get from Tommy Kraemer.

A three-year starter at Notre Dame, Kraemer was a consistent contributor for an offensive line that was considered one of the tops in the nation throughout his career. He’s a bully inside and shows a good pop in his hands. He does well to make up for his lack of foot speed with quick processing and spatial awareness.

Kraemer has a pretty high floor for his mid to late-round 2021 NFL Draft projection, so he would be a nice get for a team that is in need of some depth on their interior.