Bears mock draft 2.0: Big trades open new options, including RB Ashton Jeanty

By / / Sports / 10 minutes of reading


In 24 hours, the Chicago Bears’ mock drafts from the past few months were pancaked.

The trade acquisitions of guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson completely altered the Bears’ offensive line as well as how to approach the top of their draft.

While more work can be done on the offensive line, general manager Ryan Poles and coach Ben Johnson have already made two major moves to provide some flexibility, and free agency hasn’t even begun. By our third and final Bears mock draft in April, other needs could be filled by veterans, creating even more opportunities with the Bears’ three picks in the first 41 selections.

This mock draft also has the benefit of more data, as we’re a week removed from the combine, which gave these prospects athletic scores to consider, and we know the Bears have preferred athletes under Poles.

Below is our second Bears mock draft, with the obvious disclaimers that no one knows where anyone will truly be drafted. This is an exercise to put together another scenario for Halas Hall.

Round 1, No. 10

Fishbain: Armand Membou, OT, Missouri

You know the GIF of Kylo Ren screaming, “More!” in “The Last Jedi”? That’s what I’ll post to social media if the Bears take an offensive lineman at No. 10. Why not keep adding? Membou dominated the combine, posting the second-best 40-yard dash among offensive linemen, fourth-best vertical, best broad jump and the second-most reps on the bench press.

That’s the type of athleticism that Poles has usually preferred for his offensive linemen. Membou could start at left tackle on Day 1. He could compete with Jackson to start at guard. If Braxton Jones is in great shape, maybe Membou could take a slower on ramp to start his NFL career. After all, you can never have enough offensive linemen.

This pick is also done with the expectation that Poles adds a starting defensive end in free agency or, who knows, maybe via another trade.

go-deeper

GO DEEPER

How Joe Thuney improves the Bears’ outlook for free agency, the draft and 2025

Jahns: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State

If Will Campbell or Membou is still on the board at No. 10, the Bears should strongly consider them. They’re too good to pass on. Maybe Tennessee pass rusher James Pearce Jr. has entered the conversation after his impressive performance at the combine.

But after trading for Thuney and Jackson, the same now applies to Jeanty, who is one of the best players in the draft regardless of position.

If Jeanty truly is the second coming of LaDainan Tomlinson, the Bears can’t pass on him, especially after adding Thuney and Jackson. Coming from the Detroit Lions, Johnson will certainly view Jeanty as more than a running back.

Here’s what Lions GM Brad Holmes said after taking running back Jahymr Gibbs at No. 12 in 2023: “We didn’t acquire a running back in the first round. We acquired an elite weapon to keep our offense explosive in the first round.”

Round 2, No. 39 (from Carolina)

Fishbain: Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina

Everything Jahns used as his reasoning for using a top-10 pick on Jeanty also works for using the 39th pick on Hampton. The Bears have the flexibility now to use a high draft pick on a running back to try to create a “Sonic and Knuckles Lite” for Johnson.

Hampton set the North Carolina single-season record with 2,033 all-purpose yards last season. In his scouting report, The Athletic’s Dane Brugler writes that Hampton “is a bruiser with an effective blend of patience, power and speed.” That would complement D’Andre Swift well in the Bears’ backfield.

Now, Hampton might not even make it to Round 2, especially after running a 4.45-second 40-yard dash at 221 pounds. The same goes for Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson. But if either does, and the Bears haven’t otherwise addressed the backfield, Johnson will have options to draft a physical, bell-cow back.

Jahns: JT Tuimoloau, DE, Ohio State

In our previous mock draft, Jack Sawyer, Tuimoloau’s Buckeyes teammate, was my pick for the Bears in Round 2. This time, it’s Tuimoloau, who had 10 tackles for loss and 6 1/2 sacks in Ohio State’s four College Football Playoff games.

Tuimoloau, like many of his Ohio State teammates, didn’t participate in some of the notable drills at the combine after a long, title-winning season for the Buckeyes. The Bears and the rest of the NFL will have to wait until Ohio State’s pro day on March 26 for more information.

But at 6-4 and 265 pounds with 33 3/4-inch arms and a wing span of 82 3/8 inches, Tuimoloau’s measurements fit the physical profile that Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen looks for in his defensive ends. His physical play style should fit, too. When it comes to other prospects, Tuimoloau’s production at a big school is notable. He’s done it in big games. There’s less projection. Texas A&M pass rusher Shemar Stewart, for example, had a great combine but produced only 1 1/2 sacks in each of the past three seasons.

Round 2, No. 41

Fishbain: Landon Jackson, edge, Arkansas

OK, it’s time to go defense with another workout warrior. Jackson had the top vertical jump (40.5 inches) and second-best broad jump among defensive ends at the combine. His relative athletic score was in the 98th percentile, and he has the length and traits that Allen has preferred on his defensive line.

Jackson had 9 1/2 tackles for loss and 6 1/2 sacks last season to go along with three pass breakups. He had 13 1/2 tackles for loss and 6 1/2 sacks in 2023-24. Jackson could potentially start opposite Sweat or be the Bears’ No. 3, taking advantage of his size, strength and speed to affect the passer.

Jahns: Shemar Turner, DT, Texas A&M

At the combine, Poles highlighted the importance of having an interior pass rush. Turner (6-3, 290 pounds) isn’t the biggest defensive lineman, but he has the traits to disrupt the middle. His aggressiveness has gotten him in trouble with officials. But the Bears’ defensive line could use some nasty and brashness.

“He’s the type (of player) you want on your side,” a scout told Brugler.

Turner removed himself from the Senior Bowl because of a stress fracture in his foot that hadn’t completely healed. He also didn’t take part in drills at the combine. So team doctors will have to clear him. Texas A&M’s pro day is March 27. The Aggies had three defensive linemen in Brugler’s top 100: No. 9 Stewart, No. 53 edge Nic Scourton and No. 56 Turner.

go-deeper

GO DEEPER

Bears roster tiers: Caleb Williams, Rome Odunze give Ben Johnson plenty to work with

Round 3, No. 72

Fishbain: Jack Bech, WR, TCU

When talking to an opposing coach at the combine, I asked about a fit for the Bears at the No. 3 receiver spot. As he outlined some traits, I kept coming back to Bech, who could be the big slot to best complement DJ Moore and Rome Odunze. Of course, signing Tim Patrick or another veteran would slide this priority down, but as of now, the Bears have a hole at wideout behind the dynamic duo.

Writes Brugler, “Bech is a smooth, physical athlete who can get in and out of breaks and catches the ball with supreme confidence.” That was on display at the Senior Bowl, and Bech also graded out well at the combine with his size, agility, and strength — his 19 reps on the bench press ranked second among receivers.

Jahns: Jared Wilson, C, Georgia

The Bears’ acquisitions of Thuney and Jackson shouldn’t prevent the team from addressing center in free agency or then later in the draft. It’s a concern until an answer is found. Wilson was a one-year starter at Georgia, but SEC coaches voted him a second-team all-conference selection. Wilson and Georgia guard Tate Ratledge pulled out of the Senior Bowl after initially accepting invitations to the game. Wilson, though, led all offensive linemen in the 40-yard dash with a time of 4.84 seconds at the combine.

Round 5

Fishbain: CJ West, DT, Indiana

The Bears can’t exit the draft without finding someone from the Chicago area, right? West went to Nazareth Academy before beginning his college career at Kent State. He transferred to Indiana and had 7 1/2 tackles for loss last season. While West isn’t as big as some other preferred defensive linemen, he had the fifth-best 10-yard split among defensive tackles at the combine and sixth-best vertical jump. He could add needed depth behind Andrew Billings and Gervon Dexter.

Jahns: Mitchell Evans, TE, Notre Dame

It’s safe to assume that this good class of tight ends has caught the attention of Johnson, who used two of them in his offense in Detroit. An injury history, which includes a torn ACL in 2023, will drop Evans on draft boards. But Evans (6-5, 258 pounds) would be a safe and solid Day 3 selection. He’s a good and willing blocker who could complement tight end Cole Kmet. Evans returned from his torn ACL to make 43 catches for 421 yards and three touchdowns last season during Notre Dame’s title run.

Round 7 (From Cincinnati)

Fishbain: R.J. Mickens, S, Clemson

An argument can be made that the Bears should target safety earlier in the draft and start to think about 2026, with the futures of Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker unknown. It’s tough to do that, though, with other needs. In Mickens, the Bears would be taking someone with good bloodlines (his father Ray had 11 career interceptions with the Jets) and athleticism (Mickens had the third-best vertical jump among safeties). He could help on special teams and begin as the No. 4 safety with the potential to move up.

Jahns: Malik Verdon, S, Iowa State

Safety shouldn’t be an overlooked need for the Bears, especially because of Brisker’s concussion history. Verdon, a second-team All-Big 12 selection, stands out because of his size. He’s listed at 6-4 and 218 pounds after the combine. In his final season at Iowa State, Verdon made 76 tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack, one interception and two forced fumbles.

Round 7 (From Minnesota)

Fishbain: Carson Bruener, LB, Washington

The Bears have to start replenishing the linebackers room and can always add special teamers. Bruener, a captain at Washington who led the team with 103 tackles and three interceptions, might not have the NFL size and speed to be that productive in the league, but anyone with those instincts should be a valuable contributor. He can play on the coverage teams and compete for one of the backup linebacker roles.

Jahns: Kain Medrano, LB, UCLA

With the Bears not tendering Jack Sanborn, adding depth at linebacker has become more important this offseason. Medrano is an older player. He was a redshirt senior and a team captain for the Bruins last season. But the Bears need speed and players for special teams. Medrano led all linebackers at the combine, running the 40 in 4.46 seconds. He totaled 196 tackles, three interceptions and five forced fumbles in 50 games played at UCLA, including 26 starts.

Fishbain’s mock draft 2.0

Round-pick

  

Player

  

Position

  

School

  

1-10

OT

Missouri

2-39

RB

North Carolina

2-41

DE

Arkansas

3-72

WR

TCU

5

DT

Indiana

7

S

Clemson

7

LB

Washington

Jahns’ mock draft 2.0

Round-Pick Player Position School

1-10

RB

Boise State

2-39

DE

Ohio State

2-41

DT

Texas A&M

3-72

C

Georgia

5

TE

Notre Dame

7

S

Iowa State

7

LB

UCLA

(Photo of Ashton Jeanty: Christian Petersen / Getty Images)





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About The Author

Avatar of Elizabeth Wilson
Elizabeth Wilson is a news writer for Texas-Express.com, where she covers lifestyle, books, sports, education, and tech. She has been with the company since 2018. In her free time, Elizabeth likes to read and watch sci-fi movies. She also enjoys playing board games with friends and family.

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