Coming into the 2020 draft, nobody paid much attention to the Chicago Bears? It’s easy to understand why. They had no 1st round pick and their first choice wasn’t until 10 picks into the 2nd round. It’s hardly a surprise they were an afterthought. Still, GM Ryan Pace had a job to do. He had to make the best of the choices he had and hopefully deliver a class that could help the team win this season.
All things considered, it appears the man pulled off something rare. Halfway through the season, it looks like the 2020 class has delivered three early starters into their mix. Not just guys thrust into the lineup out of necessity either. Genuinely talented players who earned their way onto the field. Players who are gaining actual attention from the national media.
Take Daniel Jeremiah for instance.
The man is a former scout for the Baltimore Ravens and one of the most respected draft analysts in the business. He compiled his midseason rankings of the 25 best NFL rookies so far this season. Chicago was well-represented with two players on that list. The first and most obvious being cornerback Jaylon Johnson, their 2nd round pick.
“Johnson is playing with excellent awareness and toughness for the Bears. He can find and play the ball down the field. He’s a reliable tackler in the run game, too.”
The bigger surprise was who sat #24. Not top pick Cole Kmet but none other than 5th rounder Darnell Mooney.
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“Mooney, a fifth-round pick, is an explosive deep threat for the Bears. I see some similarities to DeSean Jackson in his play.”
While Johnson wasn’t a huge surprise since many felt he was a 1st round talent, Mooney came out of nowhere. Teams knew he was fast. They had no idea how good of a route runner he actually turned out to be. Something the Bears are already benefitting from.
More on-the-ball production for rookie CB Jaylon Johnson vs. TEN.
Matched up here vs. AJ Brown (top of the screen) — Challenge the break (with the shoulders square). And drive on the route.
Johnson leads the NFL with 12 PBUs (passes broken up). @NFLMatchup pic.twitter.com/LyEddvTm5q
— Matt Bowen (@MattBowen41) November 11, 2020
Chicago Bears could have two stars in their midst
Johnson isn’t just good for a rookie. He’s good period. He’s played that way all season. He’s one of the most targeted cornerbacks in the NFL and yet has 12 pass breakups and has allowed a completion rate under 50%. That is insane. The only thing missing is interceptions and that feels like a mere matter of time. It’s rather fitting he was drafted in the same round and wears the same number as Charles Tillman.
Mooney is the more exciting prospect though. The Bears haven’t seen anything like him since Johnny Knox and he might be better thanks to his route running skills. He’s already started to hit defenses for big plays. The problem is they haven’t hit him often enough. It feels like his full potential won’t be tapped until either they find a better quarterback or they find Nick Foles some proper protection.
A tall order for this franchise but something they need to keep working towards. This is the second time Mooney has earned a comparison to DeSean Jackson. Arguably one of the best deep threats in NFL history. The type of player defenses fear. Together with Johnson, if their careers continue to ascend, this class can already be considered a huge success.
If Kmet lives up to his own potential, then it might go down as one of the most impressive drafts the Chicago Bears have ever had.
