Chicago Bears' 7-Round Mock Draft and Top-100 Big Board

Following a 6-10 season and a last-place finish in the NFC North in 2015, Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Pace made it a point to add both playmakers and depth to the roster this offseason.

The team added veteran linebackers Danny Trevathan and Jerrell Freeman, defensive lineman Akiem Hicks, tackle Bobby Massie, safety Omar Bolden and guards Ted Larsen and Manny Ramirez in free agency. It traded tight end Martellus Bennett to the New England Patriots for a fourth-round pick and brought back a handful of its own free agents since the start of the new league year in March, but the team still needs a strong draft in order to be competitive in 2016.

Pace improved both sides of the ball via free agency, but the team still has needs along the defensive line, in the secondary and on the offensive side of the ball. 2015 first-round pick Kevin White missed all of last season due to a shin injury, but the young wide receiver is expected to return in 2016 and should help bolster Chicago's passing game.

After trading away Bennett and moving veteran Jared Allen to the Carolina Panthers during the season, the Bears have nine selections in the draft that begins on April 28.

Just ahead, we take a look at Chicago's big board—100 players the team could target in the early rounds—as well as give our predictions for all nine of the Bears' picks in this year's draft.

Top 100 Big Board

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Ohio State's Joey Bosa is one of the most talented defensive ends in this year's draft and could be an option if he slips out of the top 10.

NFL teams use a big board to rank players who are available in the upcoming draft, and below, we list the top 100 players who should be on Chicago's big board. The Bears likely will not be in play for a quarterback like Carson Wentz or Jared Goff, but if both signal-callers are drafted before the 11th overall pick, the Bears may have a top-10-caliber player drop to them in the first round.

Projected top-five picks like Florida State safety/cornerback Jalen Ramsey and UCLA outside linebacker Myles Jack are not included because it appears highly unlikely they fall, but Ohio State defensive end/linebacker Joey Bosa and Ole Miss offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil are included because a run on quarterbacks could push them down the board.

Chicago Bears Big Board

Rank	Player	Position	School
1	Joey Bosa	DE/OLB	Ohio State
2	DeForest Buckner	DE	Oregon
3	Laremy Tunsil	OT	Ole Miss
4	Ezekiel Elliott	RB	Ohio State
5	Shaq Lawson	DE/OLB	Clemson
6	Ronnie Stanley	OT	Notre Dame
7	Vernon Hargreaves	CB	Florida
8	Sheldon Rankins	DT	Louisville
9	Laquon Treadwell	WR	Ole Miss
10	A'Shawn Robinson	DT	Alabama
11	Eli Apple	CB	Ohio State
12	Darron Lee	LB	Ohio State
13	Jack Conklin	OT	Michigan State
14	Reggie Ragland	LB	Alabama
15	Jarran Reed	DT/DE	Alabama
16	Mackensie Alexander	CB	Clemson
17	Andrew Billings	DT	Baylor
18	Leonard Floyd	Edge	Georgia
19	Taylor Decker	OT	Ohio State
20	Noah Spence	Edge	Eastern Kentucky
21	William Jackson III	CB	Houston
22	Robert Nkemdiche	DE	Ole Miss
23	Emmanuel Ogbah	DE	Oklahoma State
24	Will Fuller	WR	Notre Dame
25	Kevin Dodd	DE	Clemson
26	Josh Doctson	WR	TCU
27	Darian Thompson	S	Boise State
28	Paxton Lynch	QB	Memphis
29	Jason Spriggs	OT	Indiana
30	Vernon Butler	DT	Louisiana Tech
31	Connor Cook	QB	Michigan State
32	Jaylon Smith	LB	Notre Dame
33	Kendall Fuller	CB	Virginia Tech
34	Jonathan Bullard	DE	Florida
35	Kamalei Correa	OLB	Boise State
36	Cody Whitehair	G	Kansas State
37	Vonn Bell	S	Ohio State
38	Keanu Neal	S	Florida
39	Michael Thomas	WR	Ohio State
40	Kenny Clark	DT	UCLA
41	Germain Ifedi	OT	Texas A&M
42	Austin Johnson	DT	Penn State
43	Jalen Mills	S	LSU
44	Artie Burns	CB	Miami
45	Hunter Henry	TE	Arkansas
46	Xavien Howard	CB	Baylor
47	Adolphus Washington	DT	Ohio State
48	Jeremy Cash	S	Duke
49	Shon Coleman	OT	Auburn
50	Kentrell Brothers	LB	Missouri
51	Shilique Calhoun	DE	Michigan State
52	Tyler Boyd	WR	Pittsburgh
53	Derrick Henry	RB	Alabama
54	Vadal Alexander	G	LSU
55	Devontae Booker	RB	Utah
56	Joshua Garnett	G	Stanford
57	Chris Jones	DL	Mississippi State
58	Braxton Miller	WR	Ohio State
59	Karl Joseph	S	West Virginia
60	Ryan Kelly	C	Alabama
61	Le'Raven Clark	OT	Texas Tech
62	Pharoh Cooper	WR	South Carolina
63	Christian Hackenberg	QB	Penn State
64	Kenneth Dixon	RB	Louisiana Tech
65	Carl Nassib	DL	Penn State
66	Christian Westerman	G	Arizona State
67	Kyler Fackrell	OLB	Utah State
68	Alex Collins	RB	Arkansas
69	Sterling Shepard	WR	Oklahoma
70	Austin Hooper	TE	Stanford
71	Charles Tapper	DE	Oklahoma
72	Sheldon Day	DT	Notre Dame
73	Will Redmond	CB	Mississippi State
74	Sean Davis	CB	Maryland
75	Nick Martin	C	Notre Dame
76	Jordan Jenkins	OLB	Georgia
77	C.J. Prosise	RB	Notre Dame
78	Isaac Seumalo	G	Oregon State
79	John Theus	OT	Georgia
80	Bronson Kaufusi	OLB	BYU
81	Javon Hargrave	DT	South Carolina State
82	DeAndre Houston-Carson	FS	William & Mary
83	Jordan Howard	RB	Oklahoma
84	Jihad Ward	DE	Illinois
85	Connor McGovern	G	Missouri
86	Rashard Higgins	WR	Colorado State
87	Jordan Howard	RB	Indiana
88	Hassan Ridgeway	DT/DE	Texas
89	Willie Henry	DT	Michigan
90	James Cowser	DE/OLB	Southern Utah
91	Cyrus Jones	CB	Alabama
92	Kolby Listenbee	WR	TCU
93	KeiVarae Russell	CB	Notre Dame
94	Cardale Jones	QB	Ohio State
95	Nick Vannett	TE	Ohio State
96	Kyle Murphy	OT	Stanford
97	Miles Killebrew	S	Southern Utah
98	Fahn Cooper	OT	Ole Miss
99	Scooby Wright III	LB	Arizona
100	Roberto Aguayo	K	Florida State

Round 1

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Shaq Lawson could give the Bears another edge-rusher in this year's draft to play alongside Pernell McPhee.

Round 1, Pick 11: Shaq Lawson, DE/OLB, Clemson

In an ideal situation for the Bears, someone like Bosa or Oregon's DeForest Buckner will slide and drop into their laps at No. 11, but with those two likely off the board, Clemson's Shaq Lawson could be the guy for Pace and Chicago in the first round.

A three-year contributor and one-year starter for Clemson, Lawson recorded 123 total tackles, 45.5 tackles for loss and 20 sacks during his time with the Tigers. In his final season, he registered 59 tackles, 24.5 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks. Clemson used Lawson both on the edge as a 5-technique defensive end and as a stand-up outside linebacker.

CBSSports.com's Dane Brugler and Rob Rang compared the young defender to current Bears outside linebacker Pernell McPhee in their scouting report.

"Like McPhee, Lawson lacks ideal height and length, but both are well-built with violent hands, ball awareness and versatility," they wrote.

At 6'3" and 269 pounds, Lawson lacks ideal size to be an every-down defensive end in coordinator Vic Fangio's scheme in Chicago, but his versatility would work well in Fangio's ever-changing scheme. The veteran coach likes to move his players around to create mismatches all along the line of scrimmage, and Lawson's ability to play with both his hand on the ground and as a stand-up linebacker makes him an intriguing choice for Chicago.

Like Brugler and Rang wrote, Lawson uses his hands well at the point of attack, and he possesses one of the strongest punches of any defensive player in this year's draft. He is quick and powerful, plays with good pad level and proved he has the ability to set the edge against the run.

Lawson needs to polish his pass-rushing technique, as he relied heavily on his effort and hand usage at Clemson. He will also need to improve his conditioning in the NFL because he appeared to wear out as he got deeper into games.

The Bears have an accomplished outside linebacker in McPhee and got solid sack totals out of defensive ends-turned-outside linebackers Lamarr Houston (eight) and Willie Young (6.5) last season, but the team has a need to get younger at the position.

Lawson would immediately help upgrade Chicago's pass rush, and the former Clemson Tiger would give Fangio a versatile piece he could use both on the outside and on the line of scrimmage in 2016 and beyond.

Round 2

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Miami's Artie Burns would give the Bears another young cornerback to build around.

Round 2, Pick 41: Artie Burns, CB, Miami

The Bears addressed the cornerback position in the first round of the 2014 draft by selecting Kyle Fuller, but the team has had a lot of influx at the spot opposite of him on the field the last two seasons.

Fuller started last year slowly, but the former Virginia Tech standout finished the season with 55 tackles and two interceptions. He struggled with penalties early in the season, but he looked comfortable in Fangio's scheme as the year wore on. He is still a work in progress, but he is expected to enter next season as the team's No. 1 cornerback.

Chicago re-signed veteran Tracy Porter to a three-year deal this offseason after a strong 2015 campaign, but the team needs to add youthful depth to the position.

Florida's Vernon Hargreaves could be an option in the first round for the Bears, but if they wait to address the position in the second round, they could get a high-upside player in Miami's Artie Burns.

A three-year contributor and two-year starter, Burns recorded 93 total tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks and seven interceptions—including six in 2015—during his time with the Hurricanes. 

A track star in high school, Burns' speed translates well on the field. He possesses above-average athleticism for the position and is able to keep receivers within reach because of his long arms (33 ¼"). He breaks on the ball well and has good enough hands to make plays on the ball in the air. 

Burns can play a bit out of control sometimes and will need to refine his skills in the NFL. He is still raw, but he is a willing tackler who can make an impact in the running game. While not the most physical defender on the outside, he does excel when asked to press at the line of scrimmage because of his length and aggressiveness.

With Porter on the roster, Burns would not be expected to immediately push for a starting role, but he would give the Bears much-needed depth at a position that has lacked playmakers the last two seasons.

Round 3

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Alex Collins would give the Bears a solid complement to 2015 fourth-round pick Jeremy Langford in the running game.

Round 3, Pick 72: Alex Collins, RB, Arkansas

The Bears allowed veteran running back Matt Forte to leave in free agency after the former second-round pick gained 8,602 rushing yards and 45 rushing touchdowns in eight seasons with the team.

Chicago used a fourth-round pick on Michigan State's Jeremy Langford last season and a fifth-round pick on Arizona's Ka'Deem Carey in 2014, but according to the Chicago Tribune's Brad Biggs, the team pursued Denver Broncos running back C.J. Anderson in free agency.

Anderson returned to the Broncos on a four-year contract, but Chicago's interest in the young running back proves the team still wants to add to the position.

Langford gained 537 yards on 148 touches in 2015, and Carey finished the year with 159 yards on 43 carries, but head coach John Fox has leaned on a running-back-by-committee approach in the past, meaning a running back could be in a play for the team in the third round.

Arkansas' Alex Collins was not a starter until 2015, but he recorded three straight 1,000-yard rushing seasons during his time with the Razorbacks. After rushing for 1,026 yards in 2013 and 1,100 yards in 2014 as a backup, Collins finished his final season with 1,577 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns on 271 carries.

A prototypical north-south runner, Collins does not shy away from contact, but he also uses his feet well and makes smooth cuts. He has good vision, plays with terrific pad level and has a nose for the end zone. 

Collins does not possess the speed to make many big plays off the edge because his game is more reliant on runs between the tackles. Despite his downhill running style, he does not break many tackles and struggled with fumbles at Arkansas.

In his running back rankings, Bleacher Report's Matt Miller listed Collins as the seventh-best back in this year's draft and compared him to Anderson. 

Taking another running back early in this year's draft after taking Langford and Carey in the previous two drafts might seem like overkill for Chicago, but the team's previous interest in Anderson proves Pace and Fox still want to add to the position.

Collins is not the flashiest running back in the draft, but he could help give the Bears another young option in the backfield who could make a living in the red zone.

Round 4

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The Bears need to find a young quarterback to groom behind Jay Cutler, and NC State's Jacoby Brissett could be their guy.

Round 4, Pick 106: Kyle Murphy, OT, Stanford

Chicago added Massie in free agency this offseason to shore up the right side of the offensive line, but the team still has a big question mark at left tackle. Second-year man Charles Leno was thrust into the starting lineup following an injury to veteran Jermon Bushrod, and the former Boise State Bronco made 13 starts in 2015. He flashed his athleticism, but he struggled in the running game.

Leno is currently the front-runner to be Chicago’s starting left tackle next season, but Stanford’s Kyle Murphy could give him a run for his money if taken by the Bears in the draft.

Murphy is an athletic tackle who uses his hands well and plays with good pad level. Despite his athleticism, he needs to improve his footwork. He is solid in the running game and has the ability to get to the second level to make blocks, but he is at his best in pass protection.

At the NFL Scouting Combine, Murphy’s arms measured in at 33.5 inches, and he uses his length to his advantage against quick edge-rushers. He has a tendency to get pushed around at times against bull-rushers, and he will need to improve his strength in the NFL.

While not a polished product, Murphy has the potential to be a day-one starter in the NFL. He could help push Leno this offseason, and if he is not able to secure the job in training camp and the preseason, he would enter the year as the team’s top swing tackle.

Round 4, Pick 127: Jacoby Brissett, QB, North Carolina State

Jay Cutler will turn 33 years old later this month, and while the veteran signal-caller had a solid 2015 campaign, the Bears need to start looking for a young quarterback to groom behind him.

North Carolina State’s Jacoby Brissett is not a household name, but he threw for over 5,000 yards with 43 touchdowns in two seasons with the Wolfpack.

At 6’4” and 231 pounds, Brissett has great size for the NFL. He played in a pro-style offense at North Carolina State and possesses the athleticism to get outside of the pocket to pick up yards with his legs when needed. He is an accurate passer who is at his best working the middle of the field, but he’s strong enough to make throws deep down the sidelines.

He protects the ball well and threw just 11 interceptions in two seasons, but a porous offensive line forced him into having bad habits in the pocket. He tends to shuffle his feet too much when feeling pressure and has a tendency to throw balls before setting his feet.

Despite some of the negatives to his game, NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein thinks Brissett has the tools to be a starting quarterback if given the time to develop:

"

With his size, arm and competitiveness, there are times when Brissett will remind you of Jameis Winston, but Winston understood the nuances of the position early in his college career while Brissett is still learning. Brissett’s overall ability as a passer is NFL-­caliber and he should continue to show rapid improvement on the next level with better weapons and protection. While an NFL staff will need to help him overcome his bad habits and learn to be more consistent with his pre­-snap recognitions, Brissett has the tools to become an NFL starter.

"

Sitting behind Cutler for a season or two should help the young quarterback, and if Brissett can work hard in the classroom and improve his footwork and mechanics on the field, he could be in the running for a starting job in the near future.

Round 5

Gregory Payan/Associated Press

D.J. Reader never lived up to his potential at Clemson, but he does have all the tools to be an effective run-stopper in the NFL.

Round 5, Pick 150: D.J. Reader, NT, Clemson 

The Bears got solid production out of 2015 second-round pick Eddie Goldman at nose tackle last season, but the team lacks depth behind him.

2014 draft picks Ego Ferguson and Will Sutton will likely get some time on the inside at the 0-technique, but the team could add a dominant run-stopper in the fifth round of the draft in Clemson's D.J. Reader.

Measuring in at 6'3" and 327 pounds at the combine, Reader has great size for the nose tackle position and carries his weight well. He is a punisher off the snap of the ball and has the strength to take on two blockers. He is at his best against the run, but he can work his way up the field when going one-on-one against an opposing offensive lineman.

Reader does have a tendency to wear down as games go on, and he will need to improve his stamina. He missed the first six games of last season due to personal reasons and recorded just 13 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a half-sack in six games.

Goldman proved last season he can get after the quarterback by recording 4.5 sacks in 15 starts, but he was moved back on occasion against the run. While Reader does not offer much as a pass-rusher, he would be able to take some of the pressure off Goldman in obvious running situations.

If paired with Goldman, Reader and the former Florida State Seminole would give the Bears an impressive young duo on the inside at the nose tackle position for the next several years.

Round 6

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Middle Tennessee State's Kevin Byard is a playmaker and would complement 2015 fifth-round pick Adrian Amos in the secondary.

Round 6, Pick 185: Kevin Byard, S, Middle Tennessee State

The Bears found a sleeper in last year's draft in the fifth round in former Penn State safety Adrian Amos, and they could find another sleeper late in Middle Tennessee State's Kevin Byard.

In four seasons with the Blue Raiders, Byard registered 318 total tackles, six tackles for loss and an impressive 19 interceptions. While he put up impressive tackle totals in four seasons, he struggles at times when asked to play up in the box against the run.

While he struggles against the run, Byard is impressive in the back half of the field as a single-high safety. He reads quarterbacks' eyes well, makes great breaks on the ball and has strong hands. He can match up one-on-one versus a receiver in man coverage, and he can also drop back and cover large areas of the field when playing zone coverage.

His lack of in-game speed did not affect him against lesser talent in Conference USA, but he may struggle to match up with some of the NFL's speedy deep threats. There's a chance Byard could go higher in this draft if a team falls in love with his ball skills, but if he is still available in the sixth round, the Bears could find a solid free safety to pair up with Amos.

Round 6, Pick 206: Quinton Jefferson, DE, Maryland

Chicago can use as many young defensive ends as it can get its hands on this offseason, and Maryland's Quinton Jefferson has the chance to be a sleeper pick for the team late in the draft.

Used as 3-technique defensive tackle with the Terrapins last year, Jefferson capped off his final season with 39 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and one interception. At 6'4" and 291 pounds, he has the size to move to the outside in a 3-4 scheme.

According to ChicagoFootball.com's Arthur Arkush, Jefferson met with the Bears at the Senior Bowl, and he talked about where he thinks he fits in the NFL.

“I think a lot of teams see me as a 3-technique and maybe a [5-technique] in run situations. I think I’m very versatile,” Jefferson said, per Arkush.

Even though Fangio is rooted in 3-4 principles, he showed a lot of different looks up front last season. Jefferson is versatile enough to move inside in four-man fronts and can also anchor outside in a three-man front against the run. 

Jefferson relies on a swim move and quick feet to apply pressure to the quarterback, and while he needs to improve his upper-body strength, he has enough functional strength to defend against the run.

He isn't flashy, but if Jefferson can work on getting stronger, he could be a part of Chicago's rotation along the defensive line in his rookie season.

Round 7

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The Bears have a need at tight end after trading Martellus Bennett, and Virginia Tech's Ryan Malleck could be an option in the seventh round.

Round 7, Pick 230: Ryan Malleck, TE, Virginia Tech

After trading Bennett to the Patriots earlier this offseason, the Bears re-signed Zach Miller, but they still have a need at the tight end position.

Miller caught 34 passes for 439 yards with five touchdowns last season, but he has struggled with injuries throughout his career. This year's draft does not have much depth at the position, but Virginia Tech's Ryan Malleck could be a good value pick in the seventh round.

Malleck caught 62 passes for 658 yards with four touchdowns in three seasons with the Hokies, and while his receiving totals do not jump off the page, he has the ability to stretch the field as a receiver. Virginia Tech used him both as a receiver and as a blocker, and he proved he can hold his own in the running game.

He needs to get stronger at the point of attack, but he could make a living as a run-blocker if he can refine his technique. Malleck plays the game hard and rarely gives up on his block, and as a receiver, he knows where to find space in the middle of the field.

Malleck will not be lobbying for starting reps as a rookie, but he is a good developmental prospect who could eventually develop into a No. 2 tight end.

All stats and combine information courtesy of NFL.com and Sports-Reference.com.