The Chicago Bears are finally back in the first round of the NFL draft after paying off their debt to the Las Vegas Raiders for the Khalil Mack trade back in September 2018.
Armed with the 20th pick overall and a total of six selections (before compensatory picks), GM Ryan Pace will have a great opportunity to address several of his roster’s biggest needs.
Most of those needs come on the offensive side of the ball, and that’s where this seven-round mock draft gets started.
Round 1: Rashod Bateman | WR | Minnesota
There’s going to be a huge run on wide receivers in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft, so if the Bears want to find an adequate replacement for the expected departure of Allen Robinson, they’ll have to strongly consider using their first pick.
Enter Bateman, who possesses a skill set similar to Robinson’s in how he can win on all three levels of the field. At 6-2 and 210 pounds, Bateman would be the perfect complement to Darnell Mooney and provide the Bears with an up-and-coming tandem at wide receiver.