Bears Mock Draft: Chicago Trades Down Twice for a King’s Ransom

Round 2, No. 33 (via HOU): Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State

The Bears got their new head coach a building block on defense, and now it is time to get Justin Fields some protection. Braxton Jones looks promising at left tackle, but Riley Reiff is headed to free agency, and the roster lacks a replacement as currently constructed.

So, let’s reunite Fields with his former Ohio State teammate — offensive lineman Dawand Jones. Jones looks like The Mountain from Game of Thrones and plays with a mean streak that only Cersei could rival. He uses his otherworldly length and impressive strength to dominate as a run blocker.

Jones is still a work in progress in pass protection, but he rarely allowed sacks at the collegiate level. While protecting CJ Stroud the past two seasons, Jones gave up only three sacks in nearly 900 snaps. As Shrek once said: “that’ll do, Donkey, that’ll do”.

Round 2, No. 35 (via IND): Isaiah Foskey, EDGE, Notre Dame

If the three-tech was the most pressing need on defense, consider edge rusher a close second. The Bears ranked dead last in pass-rushing grade at 52.2 (via PFF). That will not cut it in today’s NFL, where generating pressure on the opposing quarterback is crucial to a unit’s success.

Notre Dame’s Isaiah Foskey fits the scheme and profiles as a player who can contribute immediately. Foskey recorded 23 sacks in the past two seasons and accounted for 65 total pressures in that span. He improved his tackling in 2022, giving optimism that he can serve as a three-down player early on.

Round 2, No. 54 (via BAL): *TRADED TO ARIZONA FOR DEANDRE HOPKINS*

The Bears traded for Chase Claypool during the season, but he is not the type of receiver to lead the depth chart. Rather than leaning on Claypool and Mooney as WR1s, Chicago should take a page out of the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins playbook.

Justin Fields has been set up for failure throughout his career, but one way to turn things around is by adding a go-to veteran target. DeAndre Hopkins is not what he once was, but there are still a couple of top-of-the-line seasons still in there. Hopkins should help the development of a young quarterback, just like Stefon Diggs and Tyreek Hill before him.

The Cardinals are facing a mini-rebuild, as they enter the offseason with Kyler Murray on the shelf, where he will likely remain for at least the first month of the 2023 season. Trading the 30-year-old receiver while he still brings back a second-round pick is the best move for all parties.

Round 3, No. 64: Daiyan Henley, LB, Washington State

Chicago traded away Roquan Smith for the pick that became DeAndre Hopkins. Not too bad of a trade-off there for the Bears. However, that leaves a hole in the middle of the defense at linebacker.

Washington State’s Daiyan Henley reminds me of Darius Leonard, the superstar defender who blossomed under the tutelage of Matt Eberflus. Now, Eberflus gets a chance to replicate that success with a carbon copy.

Henley is a freaky athlete with a nose for the football. He never gives up on a play and can regularly be found tracking down ball carriers on the complete opposite side of the field. The Wazzou alum is steady across the board and will develop into an above-average starter in the Windy City.