The Bears took a step back in 2019, going from 12-4 to 8-8 as Mitchell Trubisky struggled under center and the defense wasn't as strong without Vic Fangio as defensive coordinator. Now, they're hoping a good 2020 NFL Draft can help get them back to competing in the playoffs.
Chicago was trolled relentlessly on Twitter for taking Notre Dame tight end Cole Kmet with its first second-round pick, despite already having nine tight ends on the roster. To be fair, SN's Vinnie Iyer gave the pick an A as the Bears' tight ends were among the least productive in the league last season (46 catches, 416 yards and two TDs).
The Bears got another A from Iyer in the second round, picking Utah cornerback Jaylon Johnson to start opposite Kyle Fuller. The other five picks came towards the tail end of the draft, so it's hard to project what kind of production they'll get in the short term.
Here's a look at the Bears' 2020 NFL Draft:
MORE 2020 NFL DRAFT:
Full results | Team-by-team grades | Winners & losers
Bears draft picks 2020: Who did Chicago pick?
- Round 2, Pick No. 43: Cole Kmet, TE, Notre Dame
- Round 2, Pick No. 50: Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah
- Round 5, Pick No. 155: Trevis Gipson, DE, Tulsa
- Round 5, Pick No. 163: Kindle Vildor, CB, Georgia Southern
- Round 5, Pick No. 173: Darnell Mooney, WR, Tulane
- Round 7, Pick No. 226: Arlington Hambright, OT, Colorado
- Round 7, Pick No. 227: Lachavious Simmons, OT, Tennessee State
Bears 2020 NFL Draft order
| Round | Pick No. |
|---|---|
| 2 | 43 (from Rams) |
| 2 | 50 |
| 5 | 155 |
| 5 | 163 |
| 5 | 173 (from Eagles) |
| 7 | 226 (from Raiders) |
| 7 | 227 |
MORE: Read the latest NFL Draft news at SN's draft HQ
Bears NFL Draft needs
- Safety: Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix left in free agency and Chicago still needs to fill his spot alongside Eddie Jackson.
- Guard: Kyle Long's retirement leaves the Bears with a big hole on their offensive line.
- Cornerback: Chicago cut Prince Amukamara to free up cap space, leaving it thin at the position behind new signing Artie Burns and Kevin Tolliver.
- Tight end: The Bears' top three tight ends all hit injured reserve before the end of last season, and no one in the unit was very productive. Chicago tight ends combined for 46 catches, 416 yards and two TDs in 2019.
- Defensive line: The Bears have just six linemen to fill three spots. They could use versatile players who can set the edge and plug gaps in the middle.
- Wide receiver: The offense could use a dynamic playmaker to help out Trubisky or Nick Foles.
Bears mock draft 2020
Here are the latest 2020 NFL Draft projections for the Bears, according to Vinnie Iyer's seven-round mock draft :
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 43 (from Rams) | Grant Delpit | S | LSU |
| 2 | 50 | Raekwon Davis | DT | Alabama |
| 5 | 163 | Logan Stenberg | G | Kentucky |
| 6 | 196 | Jacob Breeland | TE | Oregon |
| 6 | 200 (from Eagles) | Antonio Gibson | WR | Memphis |
| 7 | 226 (from Raiders) | Trevon Hill | EDGE | Miami |
| 7 | 233 | Nate Stanley | QB | Iowa |