Given that the Chicago Bears have the 20th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, it seems very unlikely that they will be able to pick a potential defensive potential that has the edge to start as a rookie. .
But just because it seems unlikely doesn’t mean it’s impossible.
Take, for example, the latest fake sketch from Sports Illustrated. They have defender Bears landing in Alabama, quarterback Mac Jones in the first round, despite the fact that Jones has enjoyed a boost in his stock since the end of the 2020 college football season.
SI has Jones as the fifth defender in the first round, with Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields, Zach Wilson and Trey Lane, all off the table through the fifth round (Panthers, in this drill, trade with the Bengals for No. 5 overall and select Zach Wilson).
However, it’s hard to imagine a scenario in which any of the top five defenders fall so far. The New England Patriots are desperate for young blood in this position and Jones feels a lot like a Bill Belichick guy. The Patriots choose 15th place.
There is also the Washington football team, which chooses the 19th place and has a huge goal for the defender. They will be on the market for a rookie who can start right away and Jones, with the exception of Lawrence, is the best prepared in this year’s group.
If nothing else, this fake project is an example of how the design process can be unpredictable. Just because there’s a narrative in February that suggests no defender will be in play for the Bears in Round 1 doesn’t mean a high-ranking passer will fall in April.