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Chicago Bears mock draft 4.0: Be ready for anything

By Carlos Nazario

Jan 1, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Jarrett Grace (59) misses a tackle on Ohio State Buckeyes running back Ezekiel Elliott (15) during the first half in the 2016 Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Jarrett Grace (59) misses a tackle on Ohio State Buckeyes running back Ezekiel Elliott (15) during the first half in the 2016 Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /
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Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports /

 Ezekiel Elliott, (6-foot-0, 225 pounds), RB, Ohio State

The talk about Elliott going to the Chicago Bears is getting louder. If we are going with the best player available, Elliott would be the one at eleven.

Yes, Jeremy Langford and Ka’Deem Carey are still on the team, but head coach John Fox likes to have a running back rotation so they can stay fresh throughout the season. Adding Elliott to Langford and Carey would give the Chicago Bears an excellent running game.

Having a great running game would take some pressure off quarterback Jay Cutler. He will have better protection, so he should be happy with that, but with an effective running game, he would not be needed to shoulder all the responsibility of the offense.

Think of what the Dallas Cowboys did with Tony Romo two seasons ago. After giving him the ball for a big chunk of plays over the years, the Cowboys had just a .500 record.

In 2014, the Cowboys revamped the line and gave the ball more to DeMarco Murray. They ran the ball about half of the time, and they made the playoffs and were a controversial play from making it to the NFC Championship game.

Elliott also has a history with running backs coach Stan Drayton, who recruited Elliott and got him to go to Ohio State.

“If he went to Chicago,” Stacy Elliott (Ezekiel’s father) told the Chicago Tribune, “that would be a beautiful thing.”

“We love him (Drayton),” Stacy said. “His family and my family are very tight to this day. My wife was in Chicago last week and saw them.

“He’d be reunited with the man who has had the most to do with the rise of Ezekiel Elliott. He’s a great teacher and his expectation is greatness. There’s a spiritual component in his teaching, too. To be in his (meeting) room, you have to study the game beyond technique and your position.”

Elliott is the complete package when it comes to his speed, agility, pass-catching ability and blocking. He has great vision and cut-back ability to hit the holes immediately.

The question is whether Elliott makes it to eleven. The only two impediments to that happening are the Cowboys at four and the Philadelphia Eagles at eight.

I don’t think the Cowboys will go with a running back at four. They have a lot of holes and they just signed Alfred Morris.

The Eagles may be more concerned with their defense in the first round. It appears that their eyes may be on Vernon Hargreaves. If they do, Elliott will be there for the Bears.

I kept thinking that the Chicago Bears would go with an edge rusher in the first round, but their offer to C.J. Anderson shows that they are not completely convinced having Langford and Carey. If Elliott is there, he may end up going to Chicago.

Next: Round Two: He may be the best corner in the draft

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