The Chicago Bears have two 2nd round picks going into the NFL draft. No 1st or 3rd round picks and they don’t pick again until the end of the 4th. So it’s safe to say those two picks are positively vital to them finding help for 2020. A common strategy in these situations is taking calculated risks on players that are deemed 1st round talents. They probably should’ve gone in the top 32 but for one reason or another (injuries/poor practices/attitude), they end up slipping to the second day.
A recent example is James Daniels. Many people thought he would go in the 1st round back in 2018. Unfortunately, he took a bit of a tumble. Chicago capitalized and now he is their starting left guard, and a pretty good one. No doubt GM Ryan Pace is hoping for more of that same magic. To that end, who are some top notch talents in this 2020 class that might endure such a fall? Names that fit the Bears and what they’re looking for.
Here are five to watch.
Chicago Bears could score multiple 1st round talents
Laviska Shenault (WR, Colorado)
It’s hardly a secret the Bears are desperately searching for explosiveness on offense. Speed, speed, and more speed. If you want Shenault on tape, he has that in abundance. Just a pure threat to house it every time he touches the ball. Unfortunately, that didn’t show at the combine as he ran a dubious 4.58 in the 40-yard dash. However, it was later revealed he went through drills with an injury. Health is a central part of his draft concerns but when he’s on the field, defenses are concerned.
Subscribe to the BFR Youtube channel and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
Cesar Ruiz (OG, Michigan)
Right guard is a notable concern after the retirement of Kyle Long. The offense seems to lack an element of nasty up front now. Ruiz would bring that back. Some will look at his size as mostly average and he tested fine at the combine. He’s quick, smart, technically sound and plays physical. Some have compared him to James Daniels and the Bears have benefitted significantly from that addition at left guard. Ruiz could cement the other spot next to Cody Whitehair.
Raekwon Davis (DE, Alabama)
If it were 2018, Davis would probably be a top 15 lock. He was dominant in 2017 for the Crimson Tide with 8.5 sacks. He’s 6’6 and 311 lbs with power to spare and a ton of quickness for his size. His production tapered off over the next two years though. Some chalk this up to maturity issues and lack of proper fundamentals. The talent isn’t in question. NFL.com compared him to 49ers star DeForest Buckner. It’s a matter of getting him to embrace the work to be great. Bears defensive line coach Jay Rodgers is perfect for that task.
Cameron Dantzler (CB, Mississippi State)
He has everything the Chicago Bears look for in a cornerback. He’s 6’2 and plays a physical style in coverage that is often demanded from a 3-4 defensive corner. On top of that, he showed quality ball skills with two interceptions each of the past two seasons. So why could he end up slipping out of the 1st round? Namely an underwhelming performance at the scouting combine. One that saw him run a pedestrian 4.64 in the 40-yard dash. In a league that is a little overly speed-obsessed, this sort of thing can sway boards a ton.
Grant Delpit (S, LSU)
This one would be a genuine shock for many. From a pure talent standpoint, Delpit has an argument for being the best in the entire class among safeties. He’s big at 6’2, 213 lbs, athletic, and physical. He can also play coverage too. That said, the buzz has really picked up lately. Teams have concerns about his highly-inconsistent tackling and rough angles when playing the run. His upside is immense (compared to Eric Berry) but with other safeties rising fast and his failure to perform at the combine? He’s primed for a fall.
