2022 NFL Draft Notebook: What the Chicago Bears must do this offseason

To say the Chicago Bears have not had the season they were hoping for is an understatement. The team is currently on a five-game losing streak and sits at 3-7 on the season. While Bears fans are hoping they have a quarterback to build around in Justin Fields there are several things the Bears must take care of before the start of the 2022 season to have any hopes of contending for a playoff spot next year, which includes the 2022 NFL Draft.

Along with taking a look at what the Chicago Bears must do this offseason this week’s 2022 NFL Draft Notebook takes a look at the following:

• A couple of Group of Five prospects seeing their NFL Draft stock rise
• Who each team in the AFC North might take in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft
• A Big Ten safety who shows All-Pro potential
• And much more

Chicago Bears Offseason Priorities

The Chicago Bears enter Thursday’s game against the Detroit Lions having lost five straight games, and look like a team that needs to make some major changes this offseason. The biggest area the team needs to address is finding some new leaders for this team. Along with addressing this need the team also needs to upgrade several positions on the roster if they want to compete for the playoffs next year.

The biggest need is finding a new head coach and general manager. It is becoming clear that Matt Nagy is not the man to develop Justin Fields. Nagy has failed to utilize Fields to his full potential this season, especially in the run game. He rarely uses a zone read with Fields which is a must with a player of his athletic ability. He also has not developed many passing concepts that allow Fields to throw downfield.

Along with not inspiring confidence that he can take full advantage of his quarterback’s talent, Nagy leaves a lot to be desired in his overall offensive scheme. One of the biggest issues is his inability to develop a strong run game, despite having one of the better running backs in the NFL. He also has a tendency to rely on the short passing game too often, instead of taking shots downfield.

The Bears also need to make the decision to move on from Ryan Pace this offseason. The team needs to move on from Pace since he has made some big mistakes during his tenure on the personal side. His biggest mistake was trading up for Mitch Trubisky and passing on Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson. He has also made several other mistakes in this area including signing Mike Glennon, trading for Nick Foles and drafting Kevin White.

While the top priority for the Chicago Bears is finding new leadership, the team also has several holes to fill on the roster. The biggest concern will likely be at wide receiver where the team is set to lose Allen Robinson this offseason. Other than Robinson the team only has one receiver who they can count on next season which is Darnell Mooney. This need will likely be addressed in the NFL Draft and it would not be a shock if the team took a receiver with their first pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, which comes in the second round.

Another position Chicago needs to address on the offensive side of the ball is center. Current starter Sam Mustipher has had his struggles this season, and while the team could move either Cody Whitehair or James Daniels back to center they would be creating a void at guard if they made this move. It would not be a surprise if the team decided to add a free agent at this position and then possibly draft a center on day three of the 2022 NFL Draft.

The other position that must be a priority this offseason is cornerback. This position became a need after the Bears cut Kyle Fuller last March. Chicago does have a couple of young prospects at this position in Duke Shelley and Kindle Vildor, but neither has proven they can be solid starters. It would not be a surprise if the Bears took someone like Trent McDuffie of Washington on day two of the draft to fill this need, or they could also look to bring back Kyle Fuller at a cheaper deal next season.

Anyway you look at the Chicago Bears have some work to do this offseason, and if they are content for a playoff spot in the near future they will need to bring in the right people to fill these needs.

2022 NFL Draft Stock Up

Malik Cunningham, QB, Louisville
Louisville quarterback Malik Cunningham has put up some pretty impressive numbers the past two weeks. Against Syracuse on November 13th he threw for four touchdowns and also scored one rushing touchdown. However, his best game of the season by far came this past weekend against Duke when throw for 303 yards and rushed for 204 yards. He also was able to account for seven touchdowns with five coming through the air and two coming on the ground.

Romeo Doubs, WR, Nevada
A Group of Five wide receiver who has a chance to be a day two pick is Nevada’s Romeo Doubs. Doubs showed why he is so highly regarded with his game against Air Force last week when he caught 11 pass for 159 yards and two touchdowns. This is the second game of the year where Doubs has had over 150 receiving yards, with his first one coming against Fresno State when he hauled in 19 passes for 203 yards and a touchdown.

Marcus Jones, CB Houston
To say Marcus Jones has been an impact player this year is an understatement. Jones has contributed in every area on the football field including defense, special teams and even on offense. On the defensive side of the ball he has recorded five picks in the last four games, including two last week vs. Memphis. As a return man he has returned two kickoffs and two punts for touchdowns. He has also helped out on offense having played some receiver this year where he has caught ten passes and one touchdown.

Austin Allen TE Nebraska
Nebraska tight end Austin Allen set several school records on Saturday, including receiving yards in a game by a tight end and receptions in a season by a tight end. Overall, on the day Allen caught 7 passes for 143 which averaged out to 20.4 yards per catch. When projecting Allen to the next level the first thing that stands out is his size coming in at 6-foot-8 and 260 pounds. His big play ability is another trait sure to catch the NFL’s attention. This season he has averaged 15.2 yards per catch and has had ten catches that have gone for at least 20 yards.

2022 NFL Draft Stock Down

Justyn Ross, WR, Clemson
It was announced last week that Clemson wide receiver Justyn Ross would miss the remainder of the 2021 season, due to a foot injury. This is the second year in a row he has seen his season come to an end due to injury. Last year, Ross missed the entire season due to a neck injury. If these were not enough medical concerns he also suffered a concussion against Boston College this season. These injuries will likely push him into the second day of the 2022 NFL Draft, despite having first round talent.

Josh Thompson, CB, Texas
Another player who recently suffered a season ending injury is Texas cornerback Josh Thompson. Thompson was injured in the Kansas game two weeks ago and since then it has been announced he will miss the remainder of the season with a fractured fibula. Also, similar to Ross, this is the second time Thompson’s college season has been cut short as he was only able to play in four games in 2019 due to a foot injury.

Jordan Strachan, OLB, South Carolina
When South Carolina picked up Jordan Strachan from the transfer portal last year from Georgia State the expectations were high for him. The Gamecocks were expecting a lot from Strachan since he was coming off a strong 2020 season where he tied for the FBS lead with 10.5 sacks. However, this season has been a disappointing year for him as he has only been able to account for 1.5 sacks this season. His lack of production this year has likely moved him from a fourth round grade at the start of the season to his current grade of a priority free agent.

Jahleel Billingsley, TE, Alabama
Coming into the season Alabama’s Jahleel Billingsley was rated as my second best tight end in the 2022 NFL Draft, and carried a second round grade. Unfortunately, though his stock has slipped significantly since then due to a lack of production and work ethic concerns. In the last four games of the season he has only accounted for 3 catches for 25 yards and overall on the season has only registered 13 receptions for 203 yards. His coach Nick Sanban has also stated that Billingsley needs to buy into the program and do what is expected. The fact his head coach is openly questioning his dedication has to raise character concerns for NFL scouts.

Prospects for AFC North

A look at a prospect each AFC North team could take with their first pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens offense is built around the running game, and in order for them to be successful in this area they need a strong offensive line. Unfortunately, offensive tackle is not a position of strength for the team right now since the team has seen numerous injuries at this position. The lack of health at this position especially when it comes to Ronnie Stanley who has been placed on IR the last two seasons, is why the team easily could go with an offensive tackle with their first pick. A player who would fit with the team’s physical style of play is Ikem Ekwonu of North Carolina State.

Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals are another team who could go offensive tackle early in the 2022 NFL Draft. Current starting right tackle Riley Reiff will be 33 next season, and left tackle Jonah Williams has been just ok in run blocking. This could make the Bengals decide to draft a developmental tackle late in the first round in Northern Iowa’s Trevor Penning especially if he has a strong Senior Bowl.

Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns decision to move on from Odell Beckham Jr. will likely mean the team will look to address the wide receiver position early in the 2022 NFL Draft. A prospect who could be a good fit in the middle of the first round is Ohio State’s Chris Olave. Olave is a crisp route runner who shows the relabile hands to eventually develop into a number one receiver in the NFL.

Pittsburgh Steelers

It looks like the 2022 season will be the last year we will see Ben Roethlisberger in Pittsburgh, which means the team will be in the market to replace him. One quarterback the team would love to see on the board when they pick is Matt Corral of Ole Miss. If Corral is off the board before the team selects the team could also look at quarterback Kenny Pickett of Pittsburgh or to add another pass rusher.

Scouting Notes

One of the most productive players in college football this season has been Wyoming linebacker Chad Muma. This season he has accounted for 120 tackles, three interceptions and one sack and has had over 10 tackles in all but one game this season. He can further improve his NFL Draft stock with a strong week at the Senior Bowl which it was recently announced he would be playing in. If he can impress scouts here and shows he has the athletic ability to hold up in coverage it would not be out of the question to see him go in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

While Notre Dame’s Kyle Hamilton gets most of the press in the 2022 safety class, another prospect who shows all-pro potential at this position is Michigan’s Daxton Hill. What stands out with Hill is his impressive athletic ability. Coming out of high school he posted a SPARQ score that was ranked in the 99th percentile and included a 4.3 40-yard dash and 43-inch vertical jump. Along with his impressive physical skills, Hill shows elite cover skills as well. He is routinely matched up against slot receivers one on one and more than holds his own. One area he still needs to work on though is his technique and football IQ, since he can get out of position at times.

An offensive lineman who will most likely be a top-ten pick in the 2022 NFL Draft is Charles Cross of Mississippi State. The reason Cross will likely go so high in the draft is his outstanding feet and overall athletic ability. In pass pro he shows the ability to slide with the most athletic linemen in college football, and in the run games he displays the ability to easily get to the second level. Another positive with Cross is his hand use, where he displays outstanding timing and placement in this area. One concern with him is that he is not the strongest tackle in the class, and on the few times he has been beat this year it was usually due to him being overpowered.

Last week, Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral announced he would be playing his final home game of his college career. This should not come as a surprise as Corral is widely regarded as a first round prospect, and either the first or second best quarterback in the 2022 NFL Draft. When looking at his game the first positive is his elite accuracy especially on short to medium passes. He does a great job of hitting his receiver in stride and also displays the ability to throw into tight coverage. Another positive with him is his character. He is one of the more competitive quarterbacks in college football and also shows outstanding toughness. One more thing the NFL will like about him is his mobility. Depite being a pocket passer Corral shows he has the mobility to move in the pocket or take off if the need arises. Two concerns scouts might have on him is his lack of size coming in at only 6-foot, and the fact his deep ball tends to hang which leads to questions about his arm strength.

The main reason why Miami safety Bubba Bolden is a risky prospect in the 2022 NFL Draft is his injury history. He saw his season cut short this year to a shoulder injury and his 2019 year ended due to an ankle injury. He also has some questions stemming from his time at USC where he was suspended for his actions at a party. On the field he has some issues when it comes to tackling due to him taking poor angles at times and lowering his head when trying to make the tackle.

An interesting developmental prospect in the 2022 NFL Draft is California wide receiver Trevon Clark. What will surly attract scouts attention is Clark’s combination of size and speed. Coming in at 6-foot-4 and 195 pounds he has the size to be a matchup nightmare. He shows impressive speed and playmaking ability for a player his size as well. In his latest game against Stanford he averaged 45 yards per catch which included the longest catch in Big Game history. This combination should give Clark a chance of hearing his name in the sixth or seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

Quote of the Week

“Defensively, he is the best cover guy that I’ve been around — and I’ve had corners get drafted high. He’s just special with how he can feel the receivers and make plays with his hands on the ball.”

Houston head coach Dana Holgorsen on CB Marcus Jones