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2017 NFL Draft: Chicago Bears Early Seven-Round Mock

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 6:21 p.m. ET

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Sep 22, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) throws a pass against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the first quarter at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

A complete seven-round 2017 NFL Mock Draft for the Chicago Bears.

The 2016 season has not exactly gone according to plan for the Chicago Bears. They sit at 1-5 on the season and there is little reason to believe in them doing much better going forward.

There is some nice talent on their roster, but this is a tough time for Bears fans. There is little to look forward to this season. That being said, general manager Ryan Pace appears to be a bright front office leader and should get this team pointed in the right direction soon.

While Bears games may not be exciting for fans this season, the 2017 NFL Draft will be an important night for the organization. It is early, but let’s take a look at all seven rounds for the Bears with a 2017 NFL Mock Draft.

This mock draft was completed using the FanSpeak Mock Draft Simulator.

Deshaun Watson

Quarterback, Clemson

I considered taking Michigan super defensive prospect Jabrill Peppers here with the third overall pick, but landing a quarterback was simply too tempting.

The Jay Cutler era appears to be over. And while Brian Hoyer has been playing well, he is not the guy who is going to lead them into the future. Pace and company simply must find their franchise quarterback soon.

In this mock draft, Clemson’s Deshaun Watson is the guy. Watson is not a perfect NFL quarterback prospect, but he is an extremely talented player who has massive upside at the next level. Watson is a dual threat quarterback who can make plays with his legs on the regular. That being said, he also has enticing arm talent that should play at the next level.

Watson needs to work on becoming more decisive in the pocket and his accuracy can be an issue at times. That being said, he could quickly become an NFL star. Landing Watson here could quickly reshape the entire Bears’ organization.

Sep 10, 2016; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Eddie Jackson (4) prepares to hit Western Kentucky Hilltoppers tight end Stevie Donatell (87) at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

Eddie Jackson

Defensive Back, Alabama

After landing their franchise quarterback in the first round, the Bears look to the defensive side of the ball here early in the second. While injuries have killed them this season, the Bears have a strong defensive front seven. If nothing else, they have upside up front.

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That being said, their secondary needs a lot of work. The Bears could legitimately use an upgrade at all four starting secondary positions. They have some nice young talent back there that could grow, but the Bears simply need to pour more resources into the position.

Eddie Jackson is an extremely impressive defensive back prospect who could help the Bears as a safety or a cornerback. He has played both extremely well at Alabama, but has stuck at the safety position in recent years.

That being said, I personally see a nice upside for Jackson at cornerback if the team drafting him decides to move him back. Jackson is a quick and athletic player who shows fantastic natural coverage ability and great ball skills. A great player who comes from an elite college program, Jackson has big time upside at the next level.

Whether the Bears would decide to make him a safety or corner, Jackson would be able to come in and make an immediate impact.

Sep 10, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies wide receiver John Ross (1) eyes Idaho Vandals safety D.J. Hampton (2) during the second quarter at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports

John Ross

Wide Receiver, Washington

In order to put Watson in the best position to succeed, the Bears would be wise to surround him with as many weapons as possible. The wide receiver position is not a massive need at the moment, but you can never have too many playmakers.

If Kevin White can stay healthy, Alshon Jeffery comes back and Cameron Meredith’s emergence is for real, the Bears would be fine at receiver. However, those are a lot of ifs.

In the third round, the Bears find great value in University of Washington wide receiver John Ross. A dynamic play-maker, Ross could immediately come in and be a big-play guy for the Bears. Ross is certainly a bit under-sized at 5-11, 196 pounds, but he is an incredibly fast, quick and explosive athlete who can dominate with the ball in his hands. Some scouts will look at Ross as only a slot receiver who cannot handle the grind of the NFL, but he is a potentially special player.

Ross has shown the ability to beat the defense deep and can also take a short pass and take it to the house from anywhere. On top of that, Ross is arguably the most dynamic return man in college football.

He has the raw speed and ability to absolutely dominate at the next level. There is certainly some downside here, but the Bears find a special talent here in the third round.

Sep 10, 2016; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators defensive back Quincy Wilson (6) during the second half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Florida Gators defeated the Kentucky Wildcats 45-7. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Quincy Wilson

Cornerback, Florida

Florida cornerback Jalen “Teez” Tabor has received most of the headlines and is a potential top five pick. But he has a teammate at the same position who may be just as good. Snagging Quincy Wilson in the fourth round of this mock draft is an absolute steal.

Wilson has emerged as a big-time playmaker for the Florida defense this season and he is sure to rise up draft boards in the coming months. Wilson is a bit of an unknown right now, but I’d be shocked if he is a Day 3 prospect in the draft come April.

Wilson is a long and athletic cornerback who shows great coverage skills on the outside. He does not possess elite-level speed for the position, but he is certainly fast enough to get the job done. He is a natural in coverage, showing the ability to dominate in man-to-man and play his role well in a zone. Also, Wilson shows fantastic ball skills. He is an absolute turnover machine and can make plays when the ball is in his hands.

Snagging him in the fourth round is an absolute steal. The Bears have serious issues in their defensive backfield and Wilson would be a guy who could come in and make an immediate difference. This is a perfect situation where best player available meets a major need.

Oct 15, 2016; Fayetteville, AR, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks offensive lineman Dan Skipper (70) celebrates with teammates after the game against the Ole Miss Rebels at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Arkansas defeated Ole Miss 34-30. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

Dan Skipper

Offensive Line, Arkansas

The Bears hold two fourth round selections in the 2017 NFL Draft thanks to a trade with the Buffalo Bills in last year’s draft. With their extra pick, the Bears find some nice upside at a major position of need for the team. With Josh Sitton, Kyle Long and Cody Whitehair leading the way, the Bears have a strong interior offensive line. That being said, their offensive tackle situation is ugly.

Left tackle Charles Leno shows flashes, but he has been far too inconsistent. Also, right tackle Bobby Massie simply is not getting the job done at all. The Bears could certainly make offensive tackle a priority before this, but this team has so many holes that they will not be able to fix them all.

The Bears find an interesting offensive tackle prospect with their late fourth-round selection in Arkansas’ Dan Skipper. Standing 6-10, 330 pounds, Skipper is a mountain of a man who can physically dominate his opponents.

He is not the quickest or most nimble offensive lineman, but Skipper is an absolute powerhouse up front. Skipper does a great job of using his natural leverage and strength in the run game and his length allows him to perform well in pass protection. That being said, his lack of athleticism does show up at times against a speed rush. Also, his footwork tends to be sloppy.

Skipper is far from a perfect prospect, but he is an extremely interesting one. He does not really have left tackle upside, but he could come in and compete with Massie for the Bears right tackle job right away.

Nov 28, 2015; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Jalen Hurd (1) runs the ball against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the second half at Neyland Stadium. Tennessee won 53-28. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

Jalen Hurd

Running Back, Tennessee

The Bears may have found something in rookie running back Jordan Howard, who has really played well for the team in recent weeks. Howard is a talented running back who Pace and company found in the fifth round last year.

With Howard leading the way, and the likes of Jeremy Langford and Ka’Deem Carey there to help carry the load, running back is not a huge position of need. That being said, at this point in the draft you are best off just looking for talented football players.

No matter how you look at it, landing Jalen Hurd in the fifth round is a steal. Hurd does not have a typical frame for an NFL running back (6-3, 240 pounds), but he has a chance to be special at the next level.

While Hurd is taller than NFL scouts would typically like for a running back, he is an extremely quick and powerful back who runs hard. He shows great balance, patience and ball carrier vision. Hurd is smart enough to find the who, quick enough to hit it hard and powerful enough to run over anybody who gets in his way.

He is an incredibly interesting prospect who has some nice upside at the next level. Running back is not a massive area of need for the Chicago Bears, but selecting Hurd was simply too enticing.

Oct 8, 2016; College Station, TX, USA; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Joshua Dobbs (11) rolls out to pass against the Texas A&M Aggies during the second half at Kyle Field. The Aggies defeated the Volunteers 45-38 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Joshua Dobbs

Quarterback, Tennessee

The Chicago Bears traded their 2017 sixth-round selection to the Houston Texans for tight end Khari Lee. Subsequently, they do not select again until the seventh round. Then, they landed Hurd’s backfield mate at Tennessee, quarterback Joshua Dobbs.

After landing Watson in the first round, doubling up on quarterback may seem odd. That being said, Dobbs is a talented player who would be a nice developmental prospect for the team.

Dobbs is an extremely smart and athletic quarterback who certainly has some nice upside at the next level. He is an inconsistent passer who struggles with accuracy at times, but Dobbs has the raw skill-set to be a successful NFL quarterback.

This guy is not a franchise level quarterback or anything like that, but he does have some nice ability and has had success in the loaded SEC. Taking Dobbs in the seventh round is not only good value, but his ability as a runner could come into play for the Bears.

Selecting Watson in the first round, the Bears are going all in on a dual threat quarterback in this mock draft. Dobbs would not be ready right away, but drafting him to develop as Watson’s backup would be a strong move.

Dobbs brings a similar kind of athleticism to the quarterback position as Watson. In theory, the Bears would not have to change their offense much for Dobbs in comparison to when Watson plays.

More than anything, this would be a flyer on a developmental quarterback. However, Dobbs is a talented player who has real NFL upside. In the seventh round, that is nice value.

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