Chicago Bears (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
The Chicago Bears addressed two needs at picks No. 43 and No. 50. At the same time, they showed some confidence in other glaring spots on the roster.
The Chicago Bears decided not to trade down and grab an extra pick or two. Instead, they stayed put and grabbed tight end Cole Kmet and cornerback Jaylon Johnson with the 43rd and 50th pick in the second round. Kmet will be expected to contribute right away at the Y-TE spot. Specifically, as a complement receiver to Jimmy Graham who will likely occupy the U-TE spot.
The Bears hope that Kmet will make up for the gaffe a few years ago when Ryan Pace selected Adam Shaheen in the second. Kmet should be a more pro-ready prospect than Shaheen was in 2017. He still needs work as a blocker (as most 1st-year TEs do), but he should provide Nick Foles (or Mitchell Trubisky) a nice safety blanket over the middle of the field and in the red zone.
Johnson is the best pick of the two and has the most upside. At 6-foot 193 pounds, Johnson is a physical corner that plays with solid technique. The Bears needed a press cover corner to complement Kyle Fuller and arguably the best one fell in their laps at pick No. 50.
Johnson should be able to slide immediately into the number No. 2 CB spot. If not the beginning of the season, he should be a starter by the end of the year. Johnson has all the tools to develop into high caliber No.1 CB. He could potentially become that player for the Bears in a couple years.
Fans expected the Bears to go some combination of strong safety, offensive guard, wide receiver, and even running back with those two picks. While strong safety is not a strength on paper, the Bears showed they have the utmost confidence in Deon Bush filling the void at that spot.
An offensive guard was another need that fans demanded. However, they must be high on free agent signing Germain Ifedi. Plus, they still have guys like Alex Bars and Rashaad Coward who are still young developmental projects.
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Wide receiver was a position most thought would be the pick at either one of those spots. However, the Bears seem to be confident that Riley Ridley or Javon Wims could emerge as the No. 3 WR behind Allen Robinson and Anthony Miller.
With five more picks left and the next one not being until the 5th round, the Bears could still address these needs with those picks. However, we just learned how Pace feels about certain positions on the roster.
