The Chicago Bears are one of those teams that seem to teeter on the verge of either being a playoff team or a mediocre one with a losing record. It was the latter in 2015, where the Bears finished 6-10. For a team like the Bears, success in this year's draft is critical. The Bears have a solid enough quarterback in Jay Cutler, and good receiving targets in Alshon Jeffery and Kevin White. The offensive line was bolstered this offseason, as was the linebacker group with players like Jerrell Freeman and Danny Trevathan.
2016 NFL mock draft: Chicago Bears go with Vernon Hargreaves
The Florida junior cornerback is headed to the Windy City.
But if the Bears don’t hit on some critical needs in the draft, they may continue being mired in mediocrity. Chicago has some holes on defense, namely in the secondary and at defensive tackle. Dane Noble of Windy City Gridiron, our Chicago Bears website, hits one of those with his pick:
11. Bears: Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida
More from our team site
More from our team site
Noble: The Bears have lots of needs even after an active free agency period, but here they would likely swipe the best player available at a huge need position for them -- cornerback. In theory, they could grab a defensive tackle here as well, but this year’s DT class is deep, and they can look in round 2 or even 3 in filling that need. Hargreaves would fit right in with the Bears, and provide an instant upgrade to a weak secondary the day he reports to camp.
Analysis: The Hargreaves selection certainly makes sense because the Bears have Kyle Fuller and not much else in regard to outside cornerbacks. Hargreaves is a pro-ready cornerback who was a sensation early in his career at Florida. He had some ups and downs in 2015, but when he's on there is no better pure cornerbck prospect in this year's draft.
Dan’s Top 5 players remaining
- 11. Darron Lee, LB, Ohio State
- 12. A'Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama
- 13. Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson
- 14. Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss
- 15. Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville
Bears picks
- 1-11: Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida
- 2-41: (coming April 13)
We have one more pick for the day coming up at 3 p.m. ET courtesy of Canal Street Chronicles, which covers the New Orleans Saints.
Complete draft results:
1. Tennessee Titans - Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss (Link)
2. Cleveland Browns - Jared Goff, QB, Cal (Link)
3. San Diego Chargers - Jalen Ramsey, DB, Florida State (Link)
4. Dallas Cowboys - Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State (Link)
5. Jacksonville Jaguars - Myles Jack, LB, UCLA (Link)
6. Baltimore Ravens - Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State (Link)
7. San Francisco 49ers - DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon (Link)
8. Philadelphia Eagles - Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State (Link)
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Noah Spence, DE, Eastern Kentucky (Link)
10. New York Giants - Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame (Link)
11. Chicago Bears - Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida
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