After two days of sunshine obligation within the NFL Draft, Bears basic supervisor Ryan Pace and his workers lastly can get their arms soiled Saturday.
The Bears didn’t have a first- or second-round decide. They chosen Iowa State operating again David Montgomery within the third spherical (73rd total) Friday evening. But they’ll enter Saturday with 4 picks within the ultimate 4 rounds — one within the fourth (126th) and sixth (205th) rounds and two within the seventh spherical (222nd and 238th).
“Looking at the board and where we’re at, I feel really good about the draft [Saturday],” Pace stated. “This is a very deep draft, especially in the later rounds. I think we’re gonna be able to hit a lot of good players.”
After filling the operating again opening following the commerce of Jordan Howard to the Eagles, the Bears’ greatest want heading into Saturday is a kicker. The high kickers within the draft — LSU’s Cole Tracy and Utah’s Matt Gay — are nonetheless out there, as anticipated. Kicker is probably going a seventh-round possibility for the Bears, although ready to signal an undrafted free agent is also a risk.
LSU kicker Cole Tracy (36) kicks a 42-yard discipline aim as time expired to beat Auburn 22-21 on Sept. 15 at Auburn. Tracy is among the top-rated kickers on this yr’s NFL draft. | AP photograph.
The Bears’ Day three place wants are principally in a supporting depth function, with security, cornerback, tight finish and edge rusher topping the listing.
Finally
The No. 87 decide was the Bears’ newest preliminary draft decide in franchise historical past. They have chosen their first decide within the third spherical 4 occasions: 2010 (Florida security Major Wright at No. 75); 2009 (San Jose State defensive sort out Jarron Gilbert at No. 68); 1978 (Texas defensive sort out Brad Shearer at No. 74) and 1970 (UCLA huge receiver George Farmer at No. 54).
Net achieve
Last yr, the Bears traded their 2019 second-round decide and a 2018 fourth-round decide (No. 105 total) to take huge receiver Anthony Miller at No. 51. Miller had 33 receptions for 423 yards and 7 touchdowns final season.
The Bears received an additional yr out of the 2019 second-round decide, which ended up being No. 56 this yr. The Chiefs acquired that decide from the Patriots and took Georgia huge receiver Mecole Hardman.
NIU’s Scharping to Texans
Northern Illinois offensive sort out Max Scharping was drafted by the Texans within the second spherical (55th total). The 6-6, 320-pound Scharping — from Green Bay, Wisconsin — is NIU’s earliest draft decide since security Jimmie Ward was chosen 30th total by the 49ers in 2014. The 49ers re-signed Ward to a one-year deal after his rookie contract expired final yr.