The Chicago Bears have welcomed the newest members of their roster with their 2020 draft class, which features some potential steals and some late-round gems that could become something down the line for them.
Oh, and they also got a potential Hall of Fame player that is one of the best defensive players in the league.
The Bears were without a first-round pick for the second straight year after a trade for former All-Pro Khalil Mack, who for all intents and purposes has been Chicago’s first-rounder for the last two years. With general manager Ryan Pace known for not always hitting on his first-round picks, Mack is certainly a “safe” choice.
Chicago had two selections in the second round — one from the Las Vegas Raiders in the Mack trade — and they nabbed two first-round talents in tight end Cole Kmet and cornerback Jaylon Johnson. There’s no doubt about it that the Bears got the consensus best tight end prospect in the draft in Kmet, who will be utilized as a class “Y” or in-line tight end in Matt Nagy’s offense.
But they also got a steal in the second round with Johnson, who’s been pegged by some as a top-three corner. He’ll compete for the starting right cornerback spot opposite Kyle Fuller, and you have to believe he has the upper hand at this point.
The Bears were supposed to have a fourth-round compensatory selection, which they traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars for quarterback Nick Foles. So, you could say, that Chicago did draft a quarterback this year in acquiring Foles.
Perhaps Chicago’s strongest moves came in the fifth round, where Pace traded twice to acquire two additional fifth-rounders. That says everything you need to know about the prospects acquired in the fifth round. The Bears drafted Tulsa edge rusher Trevis Gipson — who they traded a 2021 fourth-round pick to select — and his upside is too good not to get excited about.
The Bears also drafted Georgia Southern cornerback Kindle Vildor with their actual fifth-rounder, who presents as an athletic corner with special teams upside. Chicago traded two sixth-round picks to the Philadelphia Eagles to move back into the fifth round to take Tulane receiver Darnell Mooney, who is the speedster the Bears have been waiting for.
To conclude the 2020 draft class, the Bears added two offensive linemen in the seventh round. They added a guard in Colorado’s Arlington Hambright, who’s relatively inexperienced, and Tennessee State’s Lachavious Simmons, a four-year starter that will play tackle. Both will provided much-needed depth on the offensive line.
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How would you grade the Bears’ 2020 draft class?
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