Chicago Bears: Five darkhorse NFL Draft prospects at 20th overall
By Usayd Koshul
With the 2021 NFL Draft quickly approaching, the Chicago Bears plans are more unclear than ever. Rumors continue to swirl about Chicago potentially offering the 20th overall pick in a trade package to acquire a quarterback this offseason.
Ideally, Chicago wants to acquire a quarterback without having to give up a first-round pick. If General Manager Ryan Pace can do that, the Bears will be in a position to add more talent, especially on the offensive side of the ball.
Who are five darkhorse NFL Draft prospects for the Chicago Bears to consider with the 20th overall pick?
Most have Chicago selecting a quarterback in the first-round. But many fail to factor in that Chicago is only drafting a rookie quarterback if they don’t acquire a veteran one this offseason. Others have Chicago using the 20th overall pick as leverage to trade up for a quarterback. If this happens, there are at least three options (Justin Fields, Zach Wilson, and Trey Lance) that could be realistic options for Chicago.
There are also a number of other positions like wide receiver, offensive line, and linebacker that the Bears could draft at 20th overall. The immediate takeaway here is that despite Chicago’s glaring need being quarterback, if the Bears can play their cards right, they’ll be in a position to add maximize the value of the 20th overall pick.
Immediately, we know that it’s all about finding a premium player in the first-round. However, with where Chicago is picking, it’s more likely they find a premium player at a position like tight end, offensive line or even wide receiver. Linebacker is another option but in the first-round that would be seen as more of a luxury pick than addressing a need.
With the 2021 NFL Draft quickly approaching, who are five darkhorse players that the Bears need to keep an eye on that could be available with the 20th overall pick? Let’s break some names down and find out.