2017 NFL Draft: Analysts share their Chicago Bears mock drafts

As the 2017 NFL Draft quickly approaches, more mock drafts pop up around the net. We take a look at some of the latest.

The 2017 NFL Draft is almost upon us. In a mere three weeks, the lives of some of the top collegiate football players will completely change. They will become professionals and a lot of them will become members of the 1 percent. Along with that, some teams will become contenders while others take a step back. Such is the life of putting your fortunes on 20-year old men.

As we get closer to the weekend of April 27-29, we see an increase in the number of Chicago Bears mock drafts. Many analysts try to guess what Ryan Pace and the Bears will do to try to improve their 3-13 record from last season.

With a number of needs, the variety of picks varies. In just the first round, some mocks went with quarterback, defensive line, or defensive back. There are six more picks after that, so the different combinations are mind boggling.

Let’s take a look at some of the picks draft analysts around the league predict for the Bears’ first-round pick:

Rob Rang, CBS Sports

More from Da Windy City

"Jamal Adams, S, LSU — Safety has long been a sore spot in Chicago with only one Bears safety (Mike Brown) earning an invitation to the Pro Bowl over the past 20 years. Adams has that kind of potential and is viewed by some as the safest prospect in the draft. He is a tone-setter with a rare combination of instincts, athleticism and intangibles to make an immediate impact on a defense that made strides a year ago but allowed 24.9 points per game, 24th in the NFL."

Will Brinson, CBS Sports

"Jonathan Allen, DL, Alabama — Sometimes the draft process causes people to overthink things a lot and Allen, who was highly productive at Alabama, has been lost in the shuffle. The Bears never forget (Well, technically that’s elephants, but maybe bears have good memories too)."

Dane Brugler, CBS Sports

"Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State — The Bears signed Prince Amukamara to a one-year “prove it” deal, but there are still plenty of question marks at cornerback for Chicago. If the doctors give two thumbs up then Lattimore is worth this high selection."

Daniel Jeremiah, NFL.com

"Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State — Three players that make the most sense for the Bears: Malik Hooker, Jamal Adams, and Lattimore. They can’t go wrong with any of these players."

Walter Cherepinsky, Walterfootball.com

"Jonathan Allen, DL, Alabama — The Bears have a talented front seven with the only need being an impactful five-technique. Allen would be a perfect fit and a great addition to the Chicago defense."

Mel Kiper, ESPN (subscription required)

"Malik Hooker, S, Ohio State — Safety is a clear need. I had gone with Jamal Adams here, but Hooker is more of a center fielder-type with deep range and great speed. He has some Ed Reed in him as a playmaker. In his first season as a starter, he had seven interceptions in 2016, including three pick-sixes."

Todd McShay, ESPN (subscription required)

"Jonathan Allen, DL, Alabama — Stick with the tape on Allen. He’s still our No. 2 overall player, even after mediocre workouts. Allen’s quickness and power help him constantly push the pocket as a pass-rusher, and he had 22.5 sacks in the past two seasons. The Bears could use a solidifying force along the interior."

If you take a look at the picks above, you notice a difference in momentum between some of the fans and the “experts”. I see a momentum of people wanting to pick Jamal Adams. That is not the case among analysts. In fact, most are sticking with the popular choice of the past two months, Jonathan Allen. Usually, the early pick in a mock ends up being very different from the actual pick. This year, though, most analysts are sticking with the same player over an extended period of time.

Pay particular attention to Mel Kiper. He predicted last year’s Pace pick, Leonard Floyd, three weeks before the draft, then went away from him before finally settling on him in the end. Might that happen again?

Next: Bears meet with Jamal Adams

Of course, all of this is just speculation for now. It is fun speculation, however. No one really knows who the Bears will choose in the 2017 NFL Draft. The speculation makes it all exciting for fans.

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