Chicago Bears 7-Round Mock Draft: How early free-agent signings impact Bears’ draft plan

NFL free agency is still going strong, but for now, let’s take a step back and see how the Chicago Bears’ early free-agent signings could impact their 2023 NFL Draft plan.

So far, through trades and signings, GM Ryan Poles has added wide receiver DJ Moore, linebackers TJ Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds, guard Nate Davis, defensive lineman DeMarcus Walker, and special teamer Travis Homer.

The Bears lost David Montgomery to the Detroit Lions.

So who might the Bears add in the draft to continue building the team? Let’s take a look in this new Chicago Bears mock draft.

Round 1: Jaxon Smith-Njigba – Receiver, Ohio State

Many mocks will probably go with an offensive tackle here, so let’s go a different route with this year’s top wide receiver. Smith-Njigba is an elite route runner, routinely dusting his defender and getting open quickly. For a team with a young, ascending quarterback and an offensive line still under construction, that’s the kind of guy you want catching passes.

Plus, adding Smith-Njigba would give the Bears arguably a top-three receiver room just months after being in the bottom three.

Round 2: Adetomiwa Adebawore – Defensive Tackle, Northwestern

Adebawore had a Combine performance for the ages, including the fastest-ever 40-yard dash time for a man weighing over 270 pounds. The Bears had several front-office guys at Northwestern’s pro day, and according to Adebawore, the Bears talked extensively to him about playing the 3-tech role. He’d need to put on another five pounds or so of muscle, but this would be a steal and a huge boon to the defense.

Round 2: Matthew Bergeron – Offensive Tackle, Syracuse

In this mock, the Bears miss out on the top tackles but pick up a quality Day Two guy. Bergeron has left/right versatility and can play guard in a pinch. He’s got great athleticism for a guy his size and a well of experience, having been a starter since his freshman year.

Round 3: Luke Wypler – Center, Ohio State

In a deep class for Centers, Wypler is close to the top. Despite being relatively young, he has incredible football smarts and technique. And this will be music to the ears of Bears fans: he’s considered a better pass blocker than run blocker. However, that’s the nice way of saying he needs to get stronger, but that can be done fairly easily in an NFL weight room.

Round 4: Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson – Cornerback, TCU

Nephew of the Hall of Fame running back LaDainian Tomlinson, this Tomlinson has a ton of potential, but a listed size of five-foot-eight and 178 pounds drops him down some draft boards. Still, his Combine numbers were impressive, as were his stats at TCU (41 passes defensed in four seasons and allowed just a 34.6% completion rating). He would make for a fantastic nickel between Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon.

Round 4: Deuce Vaughn – Running Back, Kansas State

Montgomery is gone, and the Bears look to draft his replacement with the guy called “Double Deuce”. He stands just five-foot-six and 180 pounds but has incredible field vision and speed after a cut. Watch his highlights, you’ll see him squeeze through an impossibly small gap in the line and burst forward at top speed on his way to a big gain. He also has plenty of experience catching the ball, providing versatility from the backfield.

Round 5: KJ Henry – Defensive End, Clemson

Henry needs a lot of work on his technique, but he has athletic tools that can’t be taught and has a ton of football smarts. He’s also considered a “high-character” guy who won’t be causing any headaches off the field.

Round 5: Zack Kuntz – Tight End, Old Dominion

If you’re a long-time reader of Bears Talk (which you ought to be), you know I’ve been raving about this guy for months, and his Combine performance finally got everyone to notice. Six-foot-seven, 255 pounds, with long arms and big hands, he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.55 seconds and posted a 40? vertical jump.

At this point, I’m begging the Bears to bring him to Chicago and give Justin Fields a big-time red zone target.

Round 7: Tyson Bagent – Quarterback, Shepherd

Another player I’ve been hyping up for months. Bagent has finally gained widespread attention due to respectable performances at the Senior Bowl and Combine. He throws the ball with good zip and accuracy and has the wheels to escape pocket chaos when needed. He won the Harlon Hill Trophy (the Division II equivalent of the Heisman) in 2021 and set the NCAA record for most touchdowns ever with 151.

The Bears need a backup quarterback who can play the same style of football as Fields, and that’s what Bagent does.