The Trade Up Edition

Last week, I did a Bears mock draft where I had the Bears trading out of the first round. It was a lot of fun. I was actually able to accumulate three extra picks for this draft and two more for next year. On top of that, I was able to get a pretty stellar haul for the Bears.

This time, I decided to try a mock draft where the Bears move up in the first round. This was tougher. First, I had to figure out who we would trade up for. The top edge rushers, like David Bailey and Rueben Bain, would cost too much for the Bears to move into range for. Corner was a possibility, but I decided that safety Dillon Thieneman was the most plausible target.

To ensure I got Thieneman, I figured I had to get in front of division rivals, Detroit and Minnesota, picking 17th & 18th, respectively. Luckily, there was a very likely trade partner sitting at #16 in the New York Jets.

Round 1, Pick #16

Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

I traded the 25th pick and the second of the Bears two second rounders, #60, to the Jets to move up in front of the Vikings and Lions, who are both possible landing spots for Thieneman.

Thieneman is a perfect fit for the Bears defense and the price was moderate.

Round 2, Pick #62

Sam Hecht, C, Kansas State

After giving up one of our second rounders in the deal to get Thieneman, I wanted to try get another Day Two pick, somehow. Denver offered the best deal, giving me pick #62 & pick #108 for pick #57 & #239. It wasn’t a day two pick, but an early fourth rounder. Hopefully, I can add some more picks later.

At #62, I was happy to see Hecht still on the board. He’s the top center in the class, in my opinion, and the only one capable of wresting the starting job away from Garrett Bradbury in his rookie season.

Round 3, Pick #89

Gracen Halton, DT, Oklahoma

I had a little luck on my side here. I was looking to possibly trade back from here to add some extra picks, but when I saw that Halton had slipped and was still on the board, I quickly shifted.

Halton is a perfect scheme fit for the Bears defensive line. Explosive and athletic, a true disruptor on the line of scrimmage.

Round 4, Pick #108

Dani Dennis-Sutton, EDGE, Penn State

With the pick I acquired from Denver, I grabbed a defensive end that is physically everything Dennis Allen could want. He’s long and tall and a plus run defender. His ceiling as a pass rusher is low, but he could be a solid part of the Bears defensive end rotation.

Round 4, Pick #129

Hezekiah Masses, CB, California

I couldn’t find a decent trade to add more picks, so I stuck here and took the best player on my board.

Masses has great ball skills and has been very productive. Not a great tackler or run defender, but those ball skills give him a shot at taking over the CB2 role.

Round 7, Pick #241

Riley Mahlman, OT, Wisconsin

With the Bears last pick, I decided to go with a developmental offensive lineman. Mahlman can serve as depth at both tackle and guard.

Synopsis

I got a decent draft haul here. Thieneman is a day one starter, Halton and Dennis-Sutton will be part of the defensive line rotation and Hecht and Masses should eventually be starters.

Here’s the problem, though, I wasn’t able to address certain positions I would have liked to because I just didn’t have enough picks. I would have liked a wide receiver and/or a running back, but with limited picks and only one after the fourth round, I had to prioritize other areas.

Never say never, but I would highly doubt that the Bears would make the sort of first round trade that I did here.