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With the NFL draft just over a week away, all eyes will be on Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Pace as he has some important decisions to make.
Chicago has a number of positional needs, including offensive tackle, cornerback, wide receiver and quarterback. And, for the first time in three years, Pace has a first-round pick in his possession to make an impact.
Sports Illustrated’s Jenny Vrentas released a new one-round mock draft, where she had the Bears addressing an important position of need with Northwestern cornerback Greg Newsome II.
The Bears’ roster has many needs, none larger than QB, but their draft slot, plus the expected early run on the top-five passers, make them ill-positioned to take one in the first round. Newsome, who has generated a lot of predraft buzz, would help Chicago’s defense replace Kyle Fuller.
The concern with Newsome II is his durability, as he didn’t play a full season of college football. Newsome II missed nine games with an ankle injury as a freshman, four games with an undisclosed injury as a sophomore and sustained a groin injury in the Big 10 championship last season.
But injury concerns aren’t necessarily a make-or-break for the Bears, who took a chance on cornerback Jaylon Johnson last year after another shoulder surgery. But that winded up working in Chicago’s favor as Johnson shined in his rookie season.
Considering the Bears are in need of another cornerback after they released Fuller to free up salary cap space, Newsome II would be a good option come pick 20.
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