Chicago Bears Go Defense Heavy in Todd McShay’s Three-Round 2017 NFL Mock Draft
Who do the Chicago Bears land in Todd McShay’s Three-Round 2017 NFL Mock Draft?
Starting with the third overall pick, the Chicago Bears have an opportunity to add a lot of impact talent in the 2017 NFL Draft. With the draft just two weeks away, we are basically seeing a new mock draft by a big draft analyst every day.
On Wednesday, ESPN’s Todd McShay released his three-round NFL mock draft with the Bears landing an interesting trio of defensive players. The Bears need help on both sides of the ball, but this draft class is loaded with defensive talent. I would not be surprised to see Ryan Pace hammer that side of the ball early.
With the third overall pick, McShay gave the Bears LSU safety Jamal Adams, followed by Alabama cornerback Marlon Humphrey in the second round and Clemson defensive lineman Carlos Watkins in the third. Here is what he had to say about their haul:
"The Bears’ secondary still needs a lot of work, but the good news for Chicago fans is that this draft is ripe with playmakers in the defensive backfield. Adams is the most complete DB in the class and one of the best safety prospects I’ve evaluated in recent years. He can cover the slot or patrol the deep half, and he’s an elite run defender. I’m not as high on Humphrey as others, but he has a very high ceiling because of his size (6-foot, 197) and fluidity in coverage. Watkins is capable of developing into a three-down player in the NFL."
Adams has been getting connected to the Bears a lot in recent mock drafts. He is a fantastic playmaker at the safety position who would undoubtedly be a major addition to their defensive backfield. Adams is the kind of player who steps up when his team needs him to the most, seemingly always making a big play in the biggest moments of the game.
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If he ends up being the pick at number three, there will not be any complaints on my end.
Snagging Humphrey in the early second-round would be a huge steal for the Bears. McShay mentions that he is not particularly high on Humphrey, but his overall athleticism on the outside is undeniable. He is a first-round talent who could come in and fill a major need in the Bears defense.
The first two picks are absolute slam dunks for the Bears in this mock draft. However, I am not crazy about the selection of Watkins in the third. Watkins is a talented defensive lineman who shows some athletic upside. He also has ideal length to play five-technique in the Bears’ 3-4 defense.
However, he was blown off the ball far too often at Clemson. Watkins does not hold his ground well and is not a good value selection in the early stages of the third round. There would be some upside in that pick. Watkins can get after the quarterback from the interior but he is far from a sure-thing. Not the worst pick, but I certainly do not love it.
Next: Bears Complete Seven-Round 2017 NFL Mock Draft
All in all, this would be a good haul for the Bears. Adding Adams and Humphrey to their secondary mix would be absolutely incredible. I clearly do not love Watkins, but it is easy to see his upside. Plus, it is always nice to see prospects from legitimate blue blood programs.
One thing is for sure, the Chicago Bears would get much better on the defensive side of the ball if this is the haul in the first three rounds.