Chicago Bears 7-Round Mock Draft: Ryan Pace goes nuclear
By Ryan Heckman
Jaelon Darden. 5. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. WR. North Texas. player. 57
With their fourth and final trade in the draft, the Bears move back up to the top of the fifth round and deal for pick no. 146 with the New York Jets.
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Bears Receive: Pick No. 146
Jets Receive: Pick No. 208, 2022 4th Round Pick
With that selection, the Bears take North Texas wide receiver Jaelon Darden. This is your Anthony Miller replacement, right here. Darden is a special player and would offer the Bears incredible speed and playmaking ability after the catch.
Darden is a guy who can be gone in an instant if he’s given space, and getting him on the field with someone like Darnell Mooney could equal some fireworks. This is a phenomenal value pick in the fifth round. Darden may go sooner than this, but coming from a smaller school, sometimes you never know where these guys will go.
In just nine games last year, Darden caught 74 passes for 1,190 yards and 19 touchdowns. Do the math real quick. Darden scored twice per game, on average. That’s outstanding production, no matter what school or conference you’re coming from.
The Bears’ offense is set with playmakers now, and should have no problem putting points on the board. At this point, it’s all on Matt Nagy as the play caller.