Chicago Bears: 7-Round 2017 NFL Mock Draft Filled With Many Exciting Trades
As a specific target continued to fall through the middle of the fourth round, I tried to trade back up a bit. Eventually, I was able to get the Raiders to bite on a short trade up, coming up two spots towards the end of the fourth round. All it cost was a 7th round pick swap. Basically, I was able to land a player who I would have liked at 4.09 and picked up an extra fifth round pick for a seventh-round pick swap. I like the deals that the Chicago Bears were able to make in the fourth round.
The value of picks traded according to the NFL Draft Trade Value Chart: 44 to 43.8, advantage Bears.
The Chicago Bears found an immediate impact receiver earlier, selecting Chris Godwin in the early third round. Here in the fourth-round, a strong developmental receiver is found at a nice value. Malachi Dupre is a 6-foot-2, 196-pound wide receiver. He has exceptional natural athleticism that was shown off at the combine when he posted a 39.5-inch vertical leap and 11’4″ broad jump.
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Dupre is a big and athletic receiver who tracks the ball extremely well in the air. He is not a pro-ready player at the moment, but he undoubtedly has big-time upside at the next level.
After adding Godwin to the mix earlier, the Bears are pretty set at wide receiver for 2017. A mix including Godwin, Kevin White, Cameron Meredith, Kendall Wright and Markus Wheaton is far from elite, but it should get the job done. That being said, they could still certainly use a developmental player like Dupre at the position.
Dupre flashed brilliant upside at LSU but was never given a ton of opportunity to prove himself in their run-based attack. The LSU quarterback play was wildly inconsistent and it hurt Dupre’s ability to make a consistent impact.
He is not ready to come in and play at a high level in the NFL, but Dupre undoubtedly has some nice long-term upside. I love the idea of taking a shot at some upside at this point in the draft. If Dupre can hit, he will be a massive playmaker at the next level.