Bears Mock Draft: Could Chicago ditch Justin Fields for Caleb Williams?
By Hunter Haas
Round 2, Pick 33: Graham Barton, OL, Duke
No matter what player takes snaps from center, they will need more protection than the Bears can offer. I know, I know. The offensive line has actually played fairly well in pass protection, ranking 16th overall via PFF. But the unit is ranked dead last in the run-blocking phase.
Enter Graham Barton. The biggest selling point for Barton is his versatility across the front line. He is capable of playing anywhere from tackle to guard to center. The Duke veteran boasts refinement as a blindside protector, showing exceptional footwork and hand usage when thwarting pass rushers off the edge.
Barton could stand to get a bit stronger, and his lack of ideal measurements could force him into Day 2, as is the case in this mock draft. However, a healthy Braxton Jones, Teven Jenkins, Darnell Wright, and Graham Barton would provide protection for the newly acquired Caleb Williams.
Round 3, Pick 65: Ja’Lynn Polk, WR, Washington
The Washington Huskies have three legitimate NFL prospects at wide receiver. Ja’Lynn Polk receives the least amount of fanfare from the casual audience, but make no mistake; he is a true difference-maker in his own right.
Polk already has 21 receptions, 427 receiving yards, and four touchdowns on the year. At 6-foot-2 and 204 pounds, the Husky standout checks all the boxes physically. And that is without mentioning his vice-grip hands and elite concentration in traffic.
D.J. Moore was a solid start to building a respectable wide receiver room. But Darnell Mooney and Chase Claypool are far too inconsistent to rely on them as No. 2 and No. 3 options. Adding Polk at the tail-end of this 3-round Bears mock draft gives Chicago an immediate producer and potential star.
