Who they should pick: Packers and Bears

As usual, the Draft Compass provides different lines of reality between the different types of Mock Drafts. As is the case every year this addition focuses in on two teams, The Packers and The Bears. I am always open to do another addition for a few other teams if possible so give me a heads up for a request.

This line of reality focuses on the team needs and the players that I think they should pick that would likely be available at that pick. So, no, this is not at all what I think they will do, though there is always that possibility that they do.  

Packers Picks: 

The Packers have a new coach coming in which makes needs slightly complicated but they did enough in Free Agency to relieve most of the pressure of their needs. That means that they can go with the best player available in many cases while focusing in on a few needs.

Needs: TE, OL, S, ILB, RB, WR, Edge

Round 1 (12) – TE TJ Hockenson Iowa – Plain and simple, you want to be able to take a player this high that is an elite player. The last TE to come out that was this complete of a TE was Rob Gronkowski, Hockenson does not have the injury issues and is not quite the receiver but I really think he is going to be great.

Round 1 (30) –This pick had me really thinking a lot. It boiled down to one of two players here:

1a. G Chris Lindstrom Boston College – Lindstrom fits what LaFluer wants in a guard quite well as he is very athletic for a big guy at the expense of being a grinder. It is tough to say where he falls exactly but this appears to be a good spot for him.

1b. WR Deebo Samuel South Carolina – If Lindstrom is not available then circles back to a guy that was simply one of my favorite players in this draft. While this is not an immediate need per se, the Packers have done a great job in picking WR before they had a major need for them. Besides, the Packers have had some pretty good WR come out of South Carolina, why not bring that back? Aaron Rodgers is going to like a guy that flips the switch like Samuel on game day.  

Round 2 (44) – S Darnell Savage Jr. Maryland – It sounds like Savage is really rising now so the Packers pull the trigger here. Savage is one of my favorite players in this draft. He lacks power in his tackling but is not afraid to tackle. The combination of his field awareness, moxie, coverage ability, and overall game reminds me a lot of Earl Thomas but he is not quite as big or as strong of a tackler.

Back-up Pick: David Montgomery RB Iowa State – The more I watch Montgomery the more I like him. He could be the workhorse back the Packers need and then they can use Aaron Jones as the quick change of pace back. If Jones could hold up, this would not be a necessary pick but the Packers get a good one here.

Round 3 (75) – DT Khalen Saunders Western Illinois – The knock on him is that he went to a smaller school. He sure looked good when he had to face better competition at the Senior Bowl! Saunders reminds me so much of Mike Daniels but he is a bit more of a Nose Tackle. Still, he has sneaky pass rushing skills that will serve him well. One of those players that years down the road people look back and wonder how people missed his talent.

Round 4 (114) – ILB Bobby Okereke Stanford – Okereke is one of those “good football player” types where he has parts that you cannot coach. His background as an Eagle Scout and Watkins Award demonstrates his discipline and willingness to learn. The parts of his game that need work are coachable parts. He is fun to watch play because he reads the offense so well.

Round 4 (118) – OT Max Scharping Northern Illinois – Scharping comes back to his home town to play for the Packers. Scharping has some limitations but also may just need some better coaching and conditioning. I see him as a RT but if not he can play Guard no problem. I really like what I see when I watch him play.

Round 5 (150) – RB Ryquell Armstead Temple – Armstead has moments where he is a little straight-linish and needs a tad more patience but he make-up, quickness, and power is impressive. If the Packers do not draft a RB up to this point, Armstead could be a real find for them.

Round 6 (185) – EDGE Shareef Miller Penn State – Miller is super raw but his initial burst is pretty impressive. Take a look at the Iowa game from 2018 at 12:53 left in the first quarter and watch the snap in slow motion. Granted that he over pursues on the play, but he gets off the ball faster than the center, you cannot teach that type of quickness. A project but a very worthwhile project.

Round 6 (194) – QB/WR/DB? Trace McSorley – I do not know for sure what you do with him but he looks pretty quick and like he can fit into the slot as a WR. With that said, I actually really thought he stepped up at the Senior Bowl and played well. Which makes me wonder if his value could be as the emergency QB along with learning the ropes as a slot WR. One of those guys that you just want on your team.

Round 7 (226) – RB Tony Brooks-James Oregon – He is a part time player and a kick returner but he fits what appears to be LaFluer’s need for a quick RB and he has strong balance in getting past defenders that do not get a solid grip on him. He has also been a pretty good receiver which makes you wonder if you can use him in the slot on certain plays. Should be a solid x-factor type of player in the NFL.

Bears Picks

The Bears are going to need to reload their roster soon as they will likely have a rush of cap cuts in 2020 since they have put so much money into a few players. Trubisky will need to get paid eventually too. The numbers simply do not add up so the Bears will need to get quality depth at a lot of positions here.

Needs: DB, Edge, RB, DL, K

Round 3 (87) – RB Devin Singletary Florida Atlantic – I was scratching my head when the Bears gave Jordan Howard away but my only conclusion is that they have a guy that they want in this draft that can be a workhorse. Singletary fits that bill for sure and is a good all around player.

Round 4 (126) – OLB Maxx Crosby Eastern Michigan – Crosby is one of the strangest prospects in this draft. He looks like a basketball player at DE and looks clumsy in the way that his arms fly all over the place, yet he is not. He has some pretty intriguing pass rush skills and energy, he just needs to get a little more bulk on him. All potential here but the Bears can let him develop for a year and perhaps have a real find.

Round 5 (162) – S Jaquan Johnson Miami – Projections on Johnson are all over the place. Some of the knocks on him confuse me a little bit and make me wonder if I needed to dig in deeper on his game. When I watch him play, I see a real football player who is very aware of his surroundings and has an incredible intensity and focus during the games. I think he turns out to be a real find here.

Round 7 (222) – NT Anthony Rush UAB – Nose Tackles often slip by the wayside since stats are rarely eyepopping. Rush is more of an immovable mountain type of player but those are solid role players. Eddie Goldman is going to likely be a cap victim by next year because the Bears simply overpaid for his services. Rush can help to beef up that line.

Round 7 (238) – K Cole Tracy LSU – I am not positive that he will still be around here but I have a hard time imaging a run on kickers in this draft. The Bears put themselves in this spot so they need to get the best kicker in the draft. Tracy’s leg is not the best but he is accurate and is mentally tough which seems to be one of the most important traits in a kicker. That is what made Robbie Gould so good.

There you have it! Please reach out to me if you are wondering about any other teams and stay tuned for other features and mock drafts!