After sitting out the first round Thursday night, the Bears will be extremely busy over a 24-hour period beginning at 6 p.m. (CT) Friday when the draft resumes with the second and third rounds.
The Bears have two picks in the second round (Nos. 39 and 48) and one in the third (No. 71). When the draft concludes Saturday with Rounds 4-7, they have three selections: two in the fifth round (Nos. 148 and 150) and one in the sixth (186).
In a compilation of 20 mock drafts we posted Thursday, there were 28 different players projected to be chosen by the Bears with their two second-round picks. Of those, 25 remain heading into Round. 2. The only three who were selected in Round 1 were Penn State receiver Jahan Dotson by the Commanders at No. 16, Florida cornerback Kaiir Elam by the Bills at No. 23 and Tulsa tackle Tyler Smith by the Cowboys at No. 24.
Here are the first 25 picks in the second round:
33. Buccaneers (from Jaguars)
34. Vikings (from Lions)
35. Titans (from Jets)
36. Giants
37. Texans
38. Jets (from Panthers)
39. BEARS
40. Seahawks (from Broncos)
41. Seahawks
42. Colts (from Commanders)
43. Falcons
44. Browns
45. Ravens
46. Lions (from Vikings)
47. Commanders (from Colts)
48. BEARS (from Chargers)
49. Saints
50. Chiefs (from Dolphins)
51. Eagles
52. Steelers
53. Packers (from Raiders)
54. Patriots
55. Cardinals
56. Cowboys
57. Bills
Here are the best available players remaining entering Day 2:
According to ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr.:
1. Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia
2. Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
3. Andrew Booth Jr., CB, Clemson
4. Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State
5. Arnold Ebiketie, EDGE, Penn State
6. David Ojabo, EDGE, Michigan
7. Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington
8. Boye Mafe, EDGE, Minnesota
9. Christian Watson, WR, North Dakota State
10. Skyy Moore, WR, Western Michigan
11. Travis Jones, DT, UConn
12. Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati
13. Kenneth Walker, RB, Michigan State
14. Logan Hall, DT, Houston
15. Trey McBride, TE, Colorado State
16. Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss
17. Roger McCreary, CB, Auburn
18. Jalen Pitre, S, Baylor
19. Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina
20. Bernhard Raimann, OT, Central Michigan
21. Josh Paschal, EDGE, Kentucky
22. Drake Jackson, EDGE, USC
23. Perrion Winfrey, DT, Oklahoma
24. John Metchie III, Alabama
25. Christian Harris, LB, Alabama
According to NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah (photos of each player below):
1. Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia
2. Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
3. Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State
4. Boye Mafe, EDGE, Minnesota
5. Andrew Booth Jr., CB, Clemson
6. Kenneth Walker, RB, Michigan State
7. Arnold Ebiketie, EDGE, Penn State
8. Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington
9. Travis Jones, DT, UConn
10. Christian Harris, LB, Alabama
11. Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss
12. Jalen Pitre, S, Baylor
13. Bernhard Raimann, OT, Central Michigan
14. Nik Bonitto, EDGE, Oklahoma
15. Skyy Moore, WR, Western Michigan
16. Christian Watson, WR, North Dakota State
17. Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina
18. David Ojabo, EDGE, Michigan
19. Logan Hall, DT, Houston
20. Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati
21. Roger McCreary, CB, Auburn
22. Jaquan Brisker, S, Penn State
23. Troy Andersen, LB, Montana State
24. Chad Muma, LB, Wyoming
25. Nicholas Petit-Frere, OT, Ohio State
With the Bears holding the No. 39, No. 48 and No. 71 overall picks in the 2022 NFL Draft, check out NFL.com's list of the top 25 remaining prospects available to be selected heading into Day 2.
LB Nakobe Dean, Georgia
QB Malik Willis, Liberty
RB Breece Hall, Iowa State
Edge Boye Mafe, Minnesota
CB Andrew Booth, Clemson
RB Kenneth Walker III, Michigan State
Edge Arnold Ebiketie, Penn State
CB Kyler Gordon, Washington
DT Travis Jones, Connecticut
LB Christian Harris, Alabama
QB Matt Corral, Ole Miss
S Jalen Pitre, Baylor
OT Bernhard Raimann, Central Michigan
Edge Nik Bonitto, Oklahoma
WR Skyy Moore, Western Michigan
WR Christian Watson, North Dakota State
QB Sam Howell, North Carolina
Edge David Ojabo, Michigan
DT Logan Hall, Houston
QB Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati
CB Roger McCreary, Auburn
S Jaquan Brisker, Penn State
LB Troy Andersen, Montana State
LB Chad Muma, Wyoming
OT Nicholas Petit-Frere, Ohio State
Here are mock drafts updated after the first round listing who analysts are predicting that the Bears will select with their two second-round picks:
Dane Brugler, The Athletic
No. 39: Georgia receiver George Pickens
Comment: Despite a few red flags, Pickens has the traits to develop into Justin Fields' WR1.
No. 48: Oklahoma defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey
Comment: Winfrey gives the Bears the interior disruption they have been searching for this offseason.
Kevin Hanson, Sports Illustrated
No. 39: Georgia receiver George Pickens
Comment: The Bears should look to improve the supporting cast around Justin Fields. Pickens's best season came as a highly-touted true freshman when he hauled in 49 receptions for 727 yards and eight touchdowns in 2019. While he missed most of the past season with a torn ACL, the lanky receiver has natural hands and excellent body control.
No 48: Baylor safety Jalen Pitre
Comment: Pitre's intelligence and instincts allow him to play fast and impact the game in so many different ways. The Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2021 finished last season with 75 tackles, 18.5 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, two interceptions and three forced fumbles.
Oliver Hodgkinson, Pro Football Network
No. 39: Cincinnati receiver Alec Pierce
Comment: While some might consider offensive tackle the biggest need for the Chicago Bears with their first pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, there isn't a prospect that you'd feel comfortable taking in this mock. Ryan Poles will feel comfortable taking a size and speed freak in the form of Cincinnati's Alec Pierce to provide a go-to threat for second-year quarterback Justin Fields.
No. 48: Central Michigan tackle Bernhard Raimann
Comment: Having snagged their wide receiver at No. 39, the Bears address the offensive line with their second pick in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft. A former tight end who transitioned to offensive tackle, Bernhard Raimann has played predominantly left tackle for Central Michigan. However, he has the athleticism, flexibility, and strength to hold down the right tackle spot in the NFL.
Vinny Iyer, The Sporting News
No. 39: Baylor safety Jalen Pitre
Comment: The Bears were terrible at cornerback away from young rising star Jaylon Johnson and need to add a solid coverage option for new defensive-minded head coach Matt Eberflus. Pitre has great smarts and instincts and the versatility to play outside and inside.
No. 48: North Dakota State receiver Christian Watson
Comment: The Bears need a field-stretcher opposite new No. 1 Darnell Mooney with Allen Robinson gone. Watson would fit the bill as the ideal speedy No. 2 for Justin Fields playing off Mooney and tight end Cole Kmet.
THE BIGGEST BEARS PARTY OF THE YEAR
There's no offseason for the Bears, and this year we're celebrating an historic offseason with the whole family. We'll get together for THE MOMENT we welcome the newest Bears into the family. Join us at Soldier Field for the 2023 Miller Lite Chicago Bears Draft Party, and spend night 1 of the Draft with thousands of your closest friends.
We'll have non-stop Draft coverage and analysis, plus the spring's best party with activities across the Dr Pepper Patio, the Miller Lite Midway, the Verizon Mezzanine and on the field. Tickets for this year's Draft Party are currently sold out. Check back for updated information between now and April 27th. If further tickets become available, you'll hear about it here first.
With the Bears holding two second-round picks in the 2022 NFL Draft, senior writer Larry Mayer ranks the top 10 Round 2 draft choices in team history.
10. Matt Suhey
The fullback played all 10 of his NFL seasons with the Bears, rushing for 2,946 yards and 20 touchdowns and catching 260 passes for 2,113 yards and five TDs.
9. Alshon Jeffery
Jeffery set a Bears record with 249 receiving yards in a 2013 game against the Vikings and is one of five receivers in team history with two 1,000-yard seasons.
8. Mike Brown
Brown recorded 20 interceptions and seven defensive touchdowns, the second most in Bears history behind former teammate Charles Tillman.
7. Matt Forte
Forte ranks second in Bears history behind Hall of Famer Walter Payton in several categories, including most rushing yards and receptions.
6. Richie Petitbon
Petitbon was selected to four Pro Bowls and was voted first-team All-Pro in 1963 when he helped lead the Bears to the NFL championship.
5. Rick Casares
The star fullback was selected to five Pro Bowls, led the NFL in rushing in 1956 and retired as the Bears' all-time leading rusher.
4. Charles Tillman
Tillman set Bears records with nine defensive touchdowns, eight interception return TDs and 675 interception return yards while also forcing 42 fumbles.
3. Devin Hester
Considered by many to be the greatest return specialist in NFL history, Hester set a league record with 19 kick return TDs in eight seasons with the Bears.
2. Bill George
The Hall of Famer was credited with inventing the middle linebacker position and was voted first-team All-Pro eight times.
1. Mike Singletary
The Hall of Fame middle linebacker was voted to a Bears-record 10 Pro Bowls and was a two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
