The 2020 NFL Draft just concluded over a month ago, but it’s never too early to start looking at 2021 mock drafts. Especially now that the Chicago Bears actually have a first-round pick for the first time in three years. At least, as of now.
In Draft Wire‘s way-too-early 2021 NFL mock draft, Luke Easterling has the Bears targeting two specific offensive needs in quarterback and offensive tackle.
With Chicago’s first-round selection, Easterling has the Bears selecting Georgia quarterback Jamie Newman with the 14th overall pick. Newman is transferring from Wake Forest to Georgia, where his big-time arm and mobility should be fun to watch. Last year, Newman passed for 2,868 yards, 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
Bears general manager Ryan Pace swung and missed with the selection of Mitchell Trubisky, who now finds himself in the middle of a quarterback competition with veteran Nick Foles. If Foles ends up winning the starting job, he could be the bridge quarterback until the Bears bring in a young potential franchise quarterback, perhaps Newman.
Then with the Bears’ second-round pick, Easterling has Chicago drafting Clemson offensive tackle Jackson Carman with the 46th overall pick. Carman took over as the starting left tackle in 2019, where he played 798 snaps on 15 starts for the Tigers.
Chicago is financially strapped to both left tackle Charles Leno Jr. and right tackle Bobby Massie through at least 2021. They’d be wise to get a top offensive tackle prospect like Carman to build for the future.
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