Chicago Bears mock draft: First four rounds

Noah Spence, Outside Linebacker, Eastern Kentucky

I wrote a piece about Spence recently and whether the Chicago Bears should take a chance on this prospect.

I would NOT go after Spence in the first round, even though he may be the best linebacker in the draft. If he is available in the third round, however…

Teams get wary of drafting players with drug histories. Spence had an addiction to ecstasy that nearly cost him everything. He was one of the top players in the country, playing for the eventual National Champions of 2014, the Ohio State Buckeyes, but received a lifetime ban from the Big Ten, then went on to star in Eastern Kentucky.

Spence has undergone multiple drug tests and has passed them all, and spoke about how his life changed when he forced himself to watch his former teammates win it all without him. He says he is more dedicated to football now, and understands how he almost threw his talents away.

With that being said, playing in the NFL lends to a great many more temptations. As soon as his name is announced, he will be a millionaire. Teams will have to be sure about his resolve before drafting him.

Randy Gregory will be fresh on teams’ minds when the draft takes place. Gregory tested positive for drugs at the Combine last year, and, like Spence, had first round talent. He dropped to the second round, but now it was announced that he failed another test, and will be suspended for the first four games of 2016.

There are other examples of players like Spence who have been success stories. Janoris Jenkins and Tyrann Mathieu were top prospects who dropped because of their troubles, but neither has been a problem since entering the league.

I just think that a talent this good cannot be turned away, IF he does well in the interview process during the Combine. Also, I think Pernell McPhee, Tracy Porter and other veteran leaders in the locker room can take him under their wing and help him.

Spence is almost assured to drop in the draft. The question is, how far, and would the Chicago Bears take him?

Next: Round 4: The Chicago Bears need to think of life after Jay Cutler