Bears address tight end, linebacker in 2nd round of new mock draft

In Draft Wire’s newest 2020 NFL mock draft, Luke Easterling has Bears selecting TE Hunter Bryant and LB Malik Harrison.

The Chicago Bears have a busy offseason ahead of them, which includes addressing offensive and defensive needs both in free agency and the NFL Draft.

The Bears hold the 43rd and 50th picks in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, as they got the Raiders’ second-round pick (No. 43) in the Khalil Mack trade.

In Draft Wire’s newest 2020 NFL mock draft, Luke Easterling has the Bears addressing tight end and linebacker.

With the 43rd pick, Easterling has the Bears selecting Washington tight end Hunter Bryant. Bryant figures to fit into the Bears offense as a “U” tight end, where he can utilize his ability to serve as a matchup problem for defenders. But the concern with Bryant is his medical history, and the Bears certinaly don’t need a repeat of Trey Burton or Adam Shaheen.

Then with the 50th selection, Easterling has Chicago drafting Ohio State linebacker Malik Harrison. In 2019, Harrison had 75 total tackles, 4.5 sacks, four pass breakups and two fumble recoveries. The Buckeyes used him off the edge to rush the passer, and the Bears could do with more production at edge rusher on defense.

The Bears will have eight picks in this year’s draft, but only two in the top 50 and three in the top 150. Chicago’s selections include a projected fourth-round compensatory pick for safety Adrian Amos, as well as a conditional pick from the Eagles for running back Jordan Howard, which projects to be a sixth-rounder.

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5 TE prospects Bears should watch at NFL Scouting Combine

Tight end is arguably the Bears’ biggest offseason need. Chicago is expected to address the concern both in free agency and the NFL Draft.

There were no shortage of issues on offense for the Bears in 2019, but tight end was one of the biggest struggles. Trey Burton and Adam Shaheen both underwhelmed prior to landing on injured reserve, and Chicago will be looking to strengthen the position.

Tight end is arguably the Bears’ biggest offseason need. So much so that Chicago is expected to address the concern both in free agency and the NFL Draft.

With that said, here are five tight end prospects the Bears should watch at the NFL Scouting Combine next week:

1. Brycen Hopkins, Purdue

Perhaps the best fit for Matt Nagy’s offense, Brycen Hopkins is a player the Bears have already had an eye on. Hopkins confirmed that he’d met with Bears scouts at the Senior Bowl, which makes sense given the importance of fixing the instability at tight end.

Hopkins had 830 yards and six touchdowns with Purdue in 2019, which is the kind of production the Bears are seeking from the position. He would be the perfect fit for Nagy’s “U” tight end. He’s a strong route runner and also brings explosiveness to the position.

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5 TEs for Colts to watch at NFL Combine

TE has become a need for the Colts this offseason.

With the Indianapolis Colts likely moving on from Eric Ebron and with Jack Doyle getting up there in age, a positional need at tight end has emerged. This year’s class in the 2020 NFL draft is fairly deep with some versatility to it.

What the Colts need most is more of a move tight end, a la Ebron or Ross Travis. With two solid blockers in Doyle and Mo Alie-Cox, the need for a pass-catching tight end has become pressing.

Let’s take a look at a few tight end prospects that will take the field in late February at this NFL combine, which will be hosted again at Lucas Oil Stadium:

Harrison Bryant | Florida Atlantic | Age: 21

Bryant’s plus athletic traits, high football IQ and toughness as a blocker make him one of the most talented, well-rounded tight ends in this draft. Given the Colts need more of a move tight end and less of a blocker, Bryant would be an intriguing piece for Chris Ballard to target following the first day of the draft. Bryant caught 65 passes for 1,004 yards and seven touchdowns in 2019.

Bryant is ranked No. 6 in Draft Wire’s tight end rankings for 2020.

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Draft Network’s Mock Draft: Bears target edge rusher, tight end in 2nd round

The Draft Network released a two-round mock draft, where he had the Bears addressing EDGE and TE with their two second-round selections.

With the NFL offseason in full swing, attention has shifted to free agency and the upcoming 2020 NFL Draft, where teams like the Bears will be looking to plug some needs on their roster.

The Bears hold the 43rd and 50th picks in the second round of the NFL Draft, as they got the Raiders’ second-round pick (No. 43) in the Khalil Mack trade.

The Draft Network’s Jordan Reid released a two-round mock draft, where he had the Bears addressing the pass rush and tight end with their two second-round selections.

With the 43rd pick, Reid has the Bears selecting Penn State edge rusher Yetur Gross-Matos. Gross-Matos has a penchant for getting after the football and making plays, even in pursuit. In 2019, Gross-Matos had 40 total tackles and 9.5 sacks.

Then, with the 50th selection, Reid has Chicago addressing their need at tight end with Washington ‘s Hunter Bryant. Bryant excelled in his role as the “move” tight end, which made him a matchup problem for opposing defenses. Bryant would figure to serve a similar role in Matt Nagy’s “U” tight end role, as the Bears are looking for production from that position. In 2019, Bryant had 52 receptions for 825 yards and three touchdowns.

Barring any trades, the Bears will have eight picks in this year’s draft, but only two in the top 50 and three in the top 150. Chicago’s selections include a projected fourth-round compensatory pick for safety Adrian Amos, as well as a conditional pick from the Eagles for running back Jordan Howard, which projects to be a sixth rounder.

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Steelers land elite tight end in new 2020 mock draft

Check out this new mock draft for the Steelers.

As we go through the Pittsburgh Steelers roster, there are several top positions of need, even if you exclude potential free agency. One of those positions is tight end, where Pittsburgh continues to muddle along with subpar talent which forced them to be completely phased out of the offense.

But in the new three-round mock draft from our friends over at Draft Wire, they fix that problem in a big way. Without a first-round pick, the Steelers need to hit big with their second-round selection and in this scenario, landing Washington tight end Hunter Byant would obviously qualify.

Bryant is the exact opposite of what the Steelers typically look for in a tight end. Instead of looking like an offensive tackle after 3 months of the Keto diet, Bryant is an athletic receiving target who makes up for his lack of ideal height with tremendous skills after the catch. Pittsburgh can still keep an oversized tight end as a glorified blocker if need be but getting Bryant would add an element to the passing game this team has never had.

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Dallas Cowboys: Top 2020 NFL draft needs

The Dallas Cowboys have plenty of holes in their roster on both sides of the ball, so we break down the biggest ones

The Dallas Cowboys’ 2019 NFL season has been one of disappointment and inconsistency.

They are currently on pace to finish what should be the final season of the Jason Garrett era the way it started, with a 8-8 record. Sunday’s debacle proved that the Cowboys team is in desperate need of a few playmakers on both sides of the ball.

Offense

Tight End

Drops seem to have been the theme of the season, in fact Dallas’ top four receivers on the team have accounted for 24 total drops. It wasn’t just Amari Cooper who has been listed as the player who has led the league in drops since 2015. Cooper has the least amount of drops of the top four.

Michael Gallup (8), Randall Cobb (7) and Jason Witten (5) have been worse. The Cowboys need to find some reliability at the position.

For what feels like the fifth or sixth draft in a row the Cowboys need to find a tight end who can stretch the field. Hunter Bryant of Washington should be a player of interest.

The Cowboys do have Blake Jarwin but for whatever reason the Cowboys staff doesn’t seem to trust him in the passing game despite the fact that he averages more than a first down every two catches. He was targeted just once against Philadelphia which was a catch and first down.

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Washington TE Hunter Bryant declares for 2020 NFL draft

Washington tight end Hunter Bryant is leaving school early to enter the 2020 NFL draft

The Marathon Continues… pic.twitter.com/OOnGFkYB4N

— hunter bryant (@blackbeast88) December 6, 2019

Washington tight end Hunter Bryant has declared for the 2020 NFL draft.

Bryant announced his decision through Twitter.

Bryant is a dynamic playmaker with the potential to be special at the next level. He moves incredibly well for his size and was a difficult coverage assignment on a weekly basis.

“I’d like to thank everyone who helped me along the way,” Bryant said in his declaration video. “I’m declaring for the 2020 NFL draft and pursuing my childhood dreams of becoming a pro.”

Bryant had a career year for the Huskies in 2018 after totaling 825 receiving yards and three touchdowns. If teams are satisfied with his medical reports, Bryant could hear his name called fairly early come April.

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Jags land 2 pass catchers and 2 DBs in Draft Wire 3-round mock draft

The Jags could use a starting cornerback after trading Jalen Ramsey and Draft Wire slotted the Jags a successor in their latest mock.

Despite the emergence of receiver DJ Chark, many draft pundits have continued to mock Oklahoma receiver CeeDee Lamb to the Jacksonville Jaguars. That’s not to say we disagree here at the Jags Wire as Lamb is having an unreal season, racking up 44 receptions for 983 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Our comrades at Draft Wire are amongst those on the web who like the fit and slotted him to the Jags in their latest mock draft. They also slotted the Jags a new cornerback to start at Jalen Ramsey’s old spot in Louisiana State’s Kristian Fulton with their second first-round selection form Los Angeles Rams.

13. Jacksonville Jaguars | CeeDee Lamb | WR | Oklahoma

No matter who is playing quarterback for the Jags next year, that passer will need a blue-chip No. 1 receiver to make this offense reach its potential. Lamb has been a one-man highlight reel all season long, and has all the tools to be that player from Day 1.

20. Jacksonville Jaguars (from LAR) | Kristian Fulton | CB | LSU

After trading away arguably the league’s best corner in Jalen Ramsey, the Jags obviously have a gaping hole on the roster. Why not use one of the picks they got in return to fill that need? Fulton is big, physical, and immediate starter material.

Adding one of college’s most elite playmakers in Lamb sounds like a win in my book. Nick Foles, Gardner Minshew II, and coordinator John DeFilippo certainly wouldn’t complain either, as they could throw some nightmare formations at the opposition with Chark, Lamb, Westbrook, and Conley.

Fulton would be another welcomed addition. We’ve mentioned him in the past as our own Daniel Griffis did a breakdown on him, singling out his hip flexibility and versatility.

The Jags didn’t stop with just one pass catcher in Draft Wire’s mock, though, and were slotted Washington tight end Hunter Bryant, who would provide some much-needed help at the tight end position. They also double-dipped in the secondary by drafting Minnesota’s Antoine Winfield, Jr.

46. Jacksonville Jaguars | Hunter Bryant | TE | Washington

77. Jacksonville Jaguars | Antoine Winfield, Jr. | S | Minnesota

Sure, fans will be quick to point out the fact that the Jags just drafted Josh Oliver, however, we’ve yet to see much out of him. Additionally, the position has been very injury prone with James O’Shaughnessy and Geoff Swaim going on injured reserve and Oliver himself missing the Jags’ first six games. Adding the 6-foot-2, 239-pound Bryant onto the roster could work wonders for the Jags passing offense because he’s tremendous after the catch and is a problem for defensive backs to bring down.

As for Winfield, his name may sound very familiar. That’s because he’s the son of retired NFL great Antoine Winfield Sr., who was a three-time Pro Bowler. Needless to say, Winfield’s elite athleticism rubbed off on his son, who is a rising name in the 2020 NFL Draft after his two-pick performance against Penn State. He has the ball skills in which the Jags could use in their backfield, though Jarrod Wilson and Ronnie Harrison certainly aren’t bad players.