Moreano Mock Draft 2.0: Chicago Bears trade down and get three picks in the top 50 of the 2024 NFL Draft

The 2024 NFL Draft is just one day away.

That also means there is only one more day of mock drafts — which depending on the individual could make someone extremely excited or slightly sad. Personally, I fall somewhere in between when it comes to mock drafts.

They’re a fun way to go through one of the countless scenarios that the Chicago Bears may utilize throughout the draft, but on the other hand, I understand some fans disdain for the exercise as a whole.

Well, until it literally makes no sense to go through these mocks, let’s do one more.

In my second mock draft, I have the Chicago Bears and Indianapolis Colts making a trade. Colts general manager Chris Ballard can’t live without Georgia tight end Brock Bowers and Bears general manager Ryan Poles makes him a deal he can’t refuse. The Bears send their No. 9 overall pick and pick 122 in the fourth round to the Colts and in return get the No. 15 overall pick, No. 46 in the second round and No. 117 in the fourth round.

Round 1, No. 1 overall (via CAR) – QB Caleb Williams, USC (6-foot-1, 214 pounds) 

The wait is finally over. Regardless of what game you watch of Williams’ 37 games played in college, you are almost guaranteed to find one play that makes you wonder, ‘How the hell did he do that?” That’s the type of playmaker the Bears will now have at the quarterback position.

Round 1, No. 15 overall (via IND) – EDGE Laiatu Latu, UCLA

Latu is the best pass rusher in this year’s draft class. He is deadly with hands but also has a quick get-off, and those attributes allowed him to finish the 2023 season with 13 sacks and 21 tackles for loss. At UCLA, he was a problem for opposing offensive linemen, especially when he was in one-on-one opportunities. Latu rushes the quarterback consistently with a plan, which shows how much film work he does on every opponent he faces.

Latu’s neck injury that forced him to miss the 2020 season and medically retire in 2021 is the main obstacle for him as a prospect. It’s definitely a valid concern. However, he was healthy the last two seasons at UCLA and played in 15 total games.

If Latu is cleared medically by the Bears, he would be a disruptive force opposite of Montez Sweat. Latu also provides versatility having played in a two-point stance, with a hand in the dirt and also inside at times. It wouldn’t be surprising at all to see the 6-foot-4, 259-pound edge rusher make an immediate impact in the NFL.

Round 2, No. 46 overall (via IND) – IDL Braden Fiske, Florida State

If you crafted a “H.I.T.S” principle prospect in a lab, Fiske would be the end product. His motor is constantly running and the effort he displays on a snap-to-snap basis makes him a tough player to block for opposing offensive lineman. Fiske also has an explosive get-off and generates a good amount of force on his rushes. As a run defender, that effort clearly shows up, making it difficult to keep him blocked.

Fiske is already 24 years old, which will be a turn off for some teams. At 6-foot-3, 292 pounds, he also doesn’t have the ideal physical measurements on the interior, but the rest of his relative athletic score definitely fits what the Bears would like in a prospect.

Here is how Fiske compares to Zacch Pickens, who Poles drafted in the third round last season.

Round 3, No. 75 overall – WR Xavier Legette, South Carolina

The Bears add another receiver to the room with Legette. The 6-foot-1, 221-pound receiver out of South Carolina caught 71 passes last season for 1,255 yards and seven touchdowns. Legette is a dangerous playmaker after the catch, especially on slant and screen routes. His 4.39 speed allows him to run away from defenders once he gets in the open field.

Legette also adds special teams experience. He returned 29 kicks throughout his three seasons at South Carolina and averaged 26.4 yards, which also included his 100-yard kick return against Texas A&M on the opening kickoff during the 2022 season.

Down in Mobile, Alabama for the Reese’s Senior Bowl, Legette was outshined by some of the other receivers, and it was due to the route running. Guys like Ladd McConkey, Rickey Pearsall and Roman Wilson excelled down in Mobile due to their ability to beat man coverage. Legette needs to work on being a more refined route runner at the next level.

Round 4, No. 117 overall — G Mason McCormick, South Dakota State

McCormick is a big, physical offensive lineman that plays with a violent attitude. When he is asked to pull and be a lead block, not only does McCormick get to his spot but he does so with the intention to bury the first defender that gets in his way. McCormick also does well at creating running lanes and staying connected to his block. McCormick blew up his athletic testing at the combine, showing that he isn’t just a mauler in the run game.

During the East-West Shrine Bowl practices, McCormick played on all three interior positions. He played solely at left guard at South Dakota State (57 starts at left guard), but he did show the ability to play the other two spots if needed.

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