Chicago Bears Mock Draft: Finding Starters in Every Round

In a perfect world, a rebuilding team like the Chicago Bears finds a way to hit on a starter in every round of a draft.

This is borderline impossible, of course, but general manager Ryan Pace came close last year. He found a starter in the first round with Leonard Floyd, in the second with center Cody Whitehair and in the fifth with Jordan Howard. Guys like Jonathan Bullard (third), Nick Kwiatkoski (fourth), Deon Bush (fourth), Deiondre' Hall (fourth) and even DeAndre Houston-Carson (sixth) saw snaps throughout the season.

Pace has the ability to do something similar this year in a deep class. His moves this offseason, from addressing quarterback to revamping the secondary, don't tie up the Bears financially for the long term, meaning everything is on the table beginning with the third pick.

Below, let's try to find a starter for the Bears in every round of the draft. This can mean an instant starter or someone who develops into one by the end of the season. Call it the perfect blend of need and value at each given slot.

Round 1 (3)

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The Pick: Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson

It's easy to campaign for a position other than quarterback at three.

It's also a big mistake.

Historically speaking, quarterbacks drafted outside of the first round don't pan out often, no matter how much of a heartwarming story Dak Prescott is (outside of the Romo household).

This theme in mind, Pace will want to pull the trigger on the guy he wants. Based on everything known about Pace so far, his guy is Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson. A national champion who elevated the Tigers higher than ever before, Watson can make pro reads, has a great arm and can make plays with his feet. The biggest knock is decision-making (not to be confused with accuracy), which pro coaching can correct. 

We know Pace wanted Marcus Mariota, a guy who can make plays with his feet and is a top-tier leader. We also know he's talked up guys who elevated programs like Drew Brees did at Purdue. Watson did the same at Clemson.

So yes, the Bears could go a different direction at No. 3. But Watson hits on much of what Pace has sought in a quarterback for years. There's little reason to wait, and one has to think Watson is an instant starter, even if the front office wants to give Mike Glennon a chance first.

Round 2 (36)

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The Pick: Budda Baker, S, Washington

Pace and the front office hit it out of the park with Quintin Demps in free agency.

Even with the addition of Bush in 2016, though, safety is still the biggest need on the roster after quarterback. Given the depth of the class, Pace can afford to wait until the top of Round 2 and still find himself a guy who can handle the lion's share of the snaps.

Said guy is Washington's Budda Baker, a 5'10", 195-pound defensive back who comes with rangy coverage skills not often seen entering the pros these days.

Baker would be a first-round pick in most classes, but he gets a bit lost here. Not that the Bears will complain.

"I would leave him as a center fielder and then roll him down over the slot if you needed too. He's too small to cover tight ends, but he's got great instincts in coverage which is why he should shine as a single-high," an NFC scout told NFL.com's Lance Zierlein.

Baker is the perfect add next to Washington. And even if defensive coordinator Vic Fangio doesn't want to throw the majority of the snaps his way, Baker can still get plenty of starting experience as the extra defensive back for most of the year.

Round 3 (67)

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The Pick: Tim Williams, Edge, Alabama

The Bears aren't huge on taking guys with character risks, yet Alabama's Tim Williams is impossible to ignore if he makes it to the third round.

Some would classify Williams as undersized at 6'3" and 244 pounds, but as an edge-rusher tasked only with getting after quarterbacks, size doesn't matter if the production is there.

And on paper it certainly is. Williams is a quick-twitch athlete who can get around the outside or even cut back inside with violence, leaving bigger linemen reeling and grasping at him. There's a big reason Zierlein's pro comparison for Williams is none other than Leonard Floyd himself.

The problem with Williams, other than a silly knock on his size, is his failed drug tests while at Alabama, which he's been honest about with NFL teams.

If the front office gives Pace a green light on Williams, though, Fangio gets a one-trick player who will see the field often as a rookie rusher. Teaming with Floyd and Pernell McPhee, among others, could lead to a breakout year for the former Alabama star.

Round 4 (111), Round 4 (117)

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The Pick (111): Corn Elder, CB, Miami (Fla.)

The Bears aren't going to draft a boundary corner who can start right away in 2017, not after the additions of Marcus Cooper and Prince Amukamara in free agency. 

Slot is a different story.

Even after free agency, though, Pace knows better than to ignore a chance at another long-term starter at a premium position. By waiting until the fourth round, he can still unearth an eventual starter at an area of need while making sure bigger needs get addressed first.

The pick here is Miami's Corn Elder, a 5'10", 183-pound corner who is great for the slot and nickel packages. A Pro Football Focus scouting report compares him to Captain Munnerlyn, a guy the Bears could have signed this offseason and plugged in as a starter without hesitation.

Elder is cheaper, younger and can contribute on a situational basis before having a serious chance at beating out all others for starting slot duties as the season progresses.

The Pick (117): Eddie Vanderdoes, DL, UCLA

Chicago failed to make a major splash in free agency along the defensive line despite the injury issues to Eddie Goldman at nose last year and the fact Mitch Unrein should be depth at best, not rotating with Bullard and others as a starter.

As much as it would be fun to see the Bears fix the problem at No. 3, Eddie Vanderdoes might be able to do so around No. 117.

Vanderdoes is flying under the radar after a tough knee injury a year ago, which drowns out the talk about his great film before the injury. But he's 6'3" and 305 pounds with the versatility to stick in most spots on a hybrid front and get after the quarterback using elite athleticism.

In other words, he's a perfect pet project for Fangio. Vanderdoes could steal a starting end gig by the end of the year. In the meantime, he'd push for playing time while Fangio figures out how to best use him.

Round 5 (147)

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The Pick: Jeremy Sprinkle, TE, Arkansas

The Bears added Dion Sims this offseason, a guy who could easily turn into an every-down starter at tight end next year after the improvements through the air he flaunted a year ago.

But adding Sims and a rookie is more about immediate insurance when it comes to Zach Miller, who continues to have problems staying on the field.

Viewed through this lens, Jeremy Sprinkle is the perfect pick.

Sprinkle only falls this far because of an odd off-field gaffe late in his collegiate career. The Bears had a personal look at him during the draft process, and if he checked out, he's the ideal fit in the later rounds.

Adding a 6'5", 252-pound tight end who is a monster near the chains or in the red zone and has the strength to keep developing as a blocker is nothing short of a great get. Sprinkle is the perfect complement to either Miller or Sims and could end up replacing either of them by the end of the season.

Round 7 (221)

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The Pick: KD Cannon, WR, Baylor

Finding a starter in the seventh round isn't easy, though the Bears certainly have enough in the way of needs to make it happen. 

Look at wideout. Kevin White is a great unknown. Maybe he's a No. 1, maybe he never plays significant time. Cameron Meredith might develop into a star. Markus Wheaton is a decent deep threat if he can stay healthy. Kendall Wright might turn out if he meshes well with offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains again.

A guy like Baylor's KD Cannon would at least give the Bears a legitimate deep threat and return on special teams right away.

Cannon is a wiry 5'11" and 182 pounds and averaged north of 17 yards per catch in two of his three collegiate seasons. After blazing a 4.41 40-yard dash and hitting 37 inches on the vertical jump at the combine, it's clear Cannon's defensive-stretching athleticism is an NFL-ready trait and compensates for his lack of a robust route tree.

Given the health and reliability issues of the depth chart overall, Cannon could be a legit seventh-round starter by season's end.

Stats and info courtesy of the NFL Scouting Combine's official participants list unless otherwise specified.