The Chicago Bears are blowing it up and rebuilding. This includes changes at general manager and head coach. Chicago has let many veterans walk in NFL Free Agency while trading away Khalil Mack as well. With a small group of picks this year, the Chicago Bears draft won’t offer a quick rebuild, but they can still fill holes at key positions.
Let’s take a look at the full list of 2022 Bears draft picks. We will also review the Chicago Bears draft needs and do a short mock draft of the first couple of rounds to fill these needs.
2022 Bears Draft Picks
ROUND | OVERALL | FROM |
2 | 39 | |
2 | 48 | via LAC |
3 | 71 | |
5 | 148 | via HOU |
5 | 150 | |
6 | 186 |
The Chicago Bears draft picks don’t offer them a quick way to rebuild their team. They traded away their first and fourth-round picks last year in order to get Justin Fields. They did, however, get a second-round pick from the Los Angeles Chargers for Khalil Mack.
The Bears received no compensatory picks.
Chicago Bears Draft Needs
Wide Receiver
The Bears need to get Justin Fields some help to give him the best possible chance to become a solid pro. Yes, Darnell Mooney is a solid young player, but the rest of the depth chart doesn’t offer much optimism or talent.
Given their positioning in the draft, an early second-round pick on a wide receiver seems very possible.
Offensive Line
Fields was on the sideline to start last season because of how bad the Chicago offensive line was. We quickly saw that when he was thrust into action. The Bears cannot make this another Andrew Luck or Joe Burrow situation. They need to protect the player they gave up so much to get.
Second-year lineman Tevin Jenkins is a great player, though Chicago is playing him out of position, in my humble opinion. They would be wise to bring in some talent at left tackle, whether that be via free agency or an early draft pick.
Cornerback
With the Chicago Bears owner deciding to stay with the Packers, it would be wise to improve the secondary. We don’t need to waste any time listing off the cornerbacks currently on the Bears roster, because they’re not worth the time needed to type their names. They’re bad, and Chicago needs some bodies.
Other Positions of Need: EDGE, Defensive Line, Linebacker
Chicago Bears Mock Draft | Bears Draft Picks
Round 2, Pick 7 (39 Overall): Daxton Hill, CB/S, Michigan
Daxton Hill is one of the top defensive backs in the 2022 NFL Draft. Many are projecting him to be a Day 2 pick. However, he checks the boxes to be a first-round talent to me.
With the lack of talent in the Chicago secondary, adding a versatile player like Hill would allow them some flexibility and allow them to use some creativity in their defensive packages.
Round 2, Pick 16 (48 Overall): Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State
Jahan Dotson has the skill set to become a strong slot receiver in the NFL. His change of direction and shiftiness should allow him to create the separation needed for Fields to get some easy passes to him immediately.