The Chicago Bears surprise fans with this 2022 NFL mock draft

At pick 148 in the fifth round, the Bears stay on defense and select a defensive end out of UAB. Just as they did with selecting Trevis Gipson from a smaller program in the fifth round, this time the Bears take Alex Wright in a similar position.

Wright is a 6-foot-5 pass rusher that weighs 271 pounds, with room to add more weight and muscle. He is an explosive player off the edge with the ability to both rush the passer and play the run well.

As Wright adds more muscle, he’ll become even more effective against the run. But, already he has the ability to go from an outside rush to quickly reverting back to the inside in order to stop the run. He’s quick on his feet and in adjusting his body to the play call.

The length and raw athleticism is there with Wright, which is what makes him most intriguing as a defensive lineman. He would fit best as a defensive end in a 4-3 scheme, which is why the Bears would love to take him as a rotational player to begin with.

As he adjusts to the NFL, there is no reason Wright couldn’t develop into a starter down the road if the Bears move on from Robert Quinn. Last year, Wright tallied 7.5 tackles for a loss including 6.0 sacks, to go along with three passes defensed and two forced fumbles.