Minnesota wide receiver Rashod Bateman has become a very popular mock draft selection for the Chicago Bears at No. 20 overall, including the latest mock from The Touchdown Wire’s Marc Schofield, who acknowledged Bateman and the Bears is a logical match.
“Similar to Alijah Vera-Tucker and the Minnesota Vikings, Rashod Bateman and the Chicago Bears is another pairing I keep coming back to,” Schofield wrote. “With the addition of Andy Dalton — and the inability to draft one of the top five quarterbacks in this class — the Bears move in a different direction and give Dalton a weapon on the outside.”
In fact, the data confirms Bateman is the most popular pick to the Bears in mock drafts. He’s followed by USC offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker and Alabama QB Mac Jones as the second and third-most-common picks.
What’s becoming obvious — maybe painfully obvious — is that the Bears have so many needs that any of the players who are likely to be available at No. 20 overall would actually make sense. Every position sans running back is a viable target, on both sides of the ball.
So, if GM Ryan Pace lands Bateman? Great. If he goes for an offensive lineman instead and takes Vera-Tucker or a prospect like Virginia Tech’s Chrisitan Darrisaw? Awesome. What about a cornerback? Northwestern’s Greg Newsome II would make plenty of sense, as would a pass-rusher like Texas’ Joseph Ossai.
See the point? The Bears have needs. And regardless of which need the push to the top of the list, they’re going to land value at No. 20 overall to fill it.
In this mock, it’s Bateman. And it’s a really good pick.