In Brief…

You know the saying, “Rome wasn’t built in a day” and from what we can see, the Bears are far from completion. Patience is needed to build a great team, and so Bears fans should sit back, relax, and trust in our new GM Ryan to “Pace” our Bears back into a championship caliber team.
Defense wins championships. Games are won and lost in the trenches.
This offseason the Bears have added some experience to the defense in Alan Ball, Antrel Rolle, Mason Foster, and Pernell McPhee. All who are expected to play major roles.
Offensively, the biggest addition was the subtraction of Brandon Marshall. The Bears lost a playmaker on the field, but they rid themselves of a distraction in the locker room. This team will benefit from his absence in the long-term. The offense has a few new faces in Eddie Royal, Jacquizz Rodgers, and new center Will Montgomery, who was signed after Chicago let go of Roberto Garza.

The NFC North hasn’t changed a whole lot.

The Packers are still undoubtedly going to be the biggest threat. Detroit’s defense got weaker with the departures of Suh and Fairley, and while the Vikings don’t look all that improved, they did finish the 2014 season on a strong note.

Finally…

Here is Da Bears Brothers Official 2015 Mock Draft!

This mock draft was produced by Da Bears Brothers Will DeWitt and Brandon Hazlett.

Note: * Each draft was created separately and are independent of one another.*

Round One

 With the 7th pick, the Chicago Bears select…

DeWitt- Devante Parker, WR, Louisville (Highlights)

Shocking! I know. But let me explain. First, I don’t see Cooper nor White being available when the Bears pick at seven. However, Parker might be a better fit for Adam Gase’s offense. He is an outstanding receiver who has an “Alshon Jeffery” skill-set: elite concentration, superb body control, and soft hands. By selecting Parker, Gase will have a receiving corps like the one he had tremendous success with in Denver two seasons ago. Jeffery (6’3), Parker (6’3), and Royal (5’10) is eerily similar to D. Thomas (6’3), E. Decker (6’3), and W. Welker (5’9). No, size isn’t everything, but it surely makes a difference.

Hazlett- Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State (Highlights)

Ryan Pace likes to take the best available player. John Fox historically takes defensive players first. Combine those two and the Bears take Trae Waynes. I’ve only read good things about Trae and watching him in person makes me believe the Bears have a solid pick in Waynes.

 With the 11th pick, the Minnesota Vikings select…

DeWitt- Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State (Highlights)

Waynes is an athletic corner, as evident by the fact that he was the combine’s top corner in both the bench and the 40 yard dash. This outstanding balance of speed and strength is what separates Waynes from the others. If paired with Xavier Rhodes, the Vikings would have a duo that can cover any receiving corps not only in the NFC North, but in the entire NFL.

Hazlett- La’el Collins, Guard, LSU (Highlights)

The Vikings only have three guards listed on their roster. Their number one concern should be to add another warm body to the line.

 With the 23th pick, the Detroit Lions select…

DeWitt- Malcolm Brown, DT, Texas (Highlights)

Detroit lost Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley. The Lions did get Ngata from the Ravens to assume one of the open roles, but Ngata has maybe a couple good years left. I believe that Detroit selects Brown with this pick. This was a tough choice, as the Lions can easily draft an offensive linemen or a cornerback here, too.

Hazlett- Eddie Goldman, DT, FSU (Highlights)

Eddie has the potential to be a playmaker playing next to Ngata on that front line. It isn’t a Suh and Fairley type of combination, but two second tier players next to each other could create problems for some teams.

 With the 30th pick, the Green Bay Packers select…

DeWitt- Eric Kendricks, ILB, UCLA (Highlights)

With the release of Brad Jones and A.J. Hawk, I see the Packers selecting an ILB to solidify the interior of their defense. Kendricks has been one of the most productive tacklers in all of college football over the past few seasons and Green Bay is in need of his services.

Hazlett- Marcus Peters, CB, Washington (Highlights)

Marcus did not finish his senior year with the team because of disagreements with the coaching staff. At 6 foot and weighing 197 lbs he has the size to cover some of the better WR’s in the league. The only question for Green Bay is if they want to roll the dice on his off the field issues; I think they take that chance.

Round Two

With the 39th pick, the Chicago Bears select…

DeWitt- Tevin Coleman, RB, Indiana (Highlights)

Matt Forte has been vocal about a new contract. Bears fans already know that his time with the team is nearing its end and the Bears need to find his replacement in the draft. Since Forte was a second round draft choice, I believe that is where the Bears should draft his successor. Coleman is lauded for his one-cut ability and his willingness to fight for yards. Watching him this season at Indiana, I have seen him break countless plays for long gains. From Tinley Park, Coleman returns home with this pick.

Hazlett- Brett Hundley, UCLA, QB (Highlights)

I watched this guy throw live at the combine and he looked solid. He didn’t blow me away or anything, but with some work the sky’s the limit for Brett. He has the ability to scramble out of danger. Just his decision making as a young QB in the NFL could be concerning early on. With some experience under his belt, I think Brett is the QB of the future in Chicago.

 With the 45th pick, the Minnesota Vikings select…

DeWitt- Shaq Thompson, OLB, Washington (Highlights)

Minnesota already has Anthony Barr, but if the Vikings were smart they would pair Thompson with Barr as the weak-side linebacker. Thompson is a simply a playmaker. He scored four defensive touchdowns and had three forced fumbles in 2014. This knack for big plays will give the Vikings defense an extra chip on their shoulder.

Hazlett- Ameer Abdullah, RB, Nebraska (Highlights)

Based on the offseason confrontations the Vikings front office had with AP, I don’t think he will be returning to Minnesota. This is a position that could definitely use an upgrade.

With the 54th pick, the Detroit Lions select…

DeWitt- Jay Ajayi, RB, Boise St. (Highlights)

 The Lions have had a hard time finding the one guy who can carry the load on a constant basis. Both Bell and Bush have had injury problems, and with Bush gone the Lions can potentially find their guy for the foreseeable future in Ajayi. He has shifty feet and knows how to make defenders miss tackles.

Hazlett- Arie Kouandijo, OG, Alabama (No Highlights Available)

The Lions have three guards listed on their roster, just like the Vikings. All the guards for Detroit have three years or less of experience, bring in Arie to create a little competition and the starting positions at guard for Detroit are up in the air.

With the 62nd pick, the Green Bay Packers select…

DeWitt- Ronald Darby, CB, Florida State (Highlights)

Ronald Darby is the epitome of speed (ran a 4.38 at the combine). He is a smart player who understands when to go after the football. His speed and his smarts makes him a coveted corner in this draft. Whoever ends up drafting Darby will be much better for it. Bears fans, let’s hope that team isn’t the Packers.

Hazlett- Maxx Williams, TE, Minnesota (Highlights)

Being in Big Ten country, I’ve watched this guy shred my Boilermaker defense. At 6’4” and weighing 249 lbs, he fits right into the rest of the Packers TE core. Just let Aaron Rodgers dump him the ball in the flat and Maxx will go to work.

Round Three

 With the 71st pick, the Chicago Bears select…

DeWitt- P.J. Williams, CB, Florida State (Highlights)

With the release of longtime Bear Charles Tillman, the Bears are in need of a replacement. Kyle Fuller was drafted in the first round last year. However, with an aging Tim Jennings, Chicago needs to add some depth at corner. Enter Williams. He is an instinctive player with excellent ball skills. Some speculate that Williams would be a better safety. Drafting P.J. Williams would be a wise draft pick for the Bears, as he has the potential to end up as either the cornerback or the safety of the future.

Hazlett- Devin Funchess, WR, Michigan (Highlights)

I also was able to watch Devin live at the combine. His size is Marshall-esque. A concern that most teams have with Devin is that he won’t be able to separate from corners in the league. Some question his competitiveness. If Devin really wants to, I think he can push for an outside receiver spot. Funchess could be another big target for our quarterbacks.

 With the 76th pick, the Minnesota Vikings select…

DeWitt- Devin Smith, WR, Ohio State (Highlights)

Smith is a fast receiver with big play potential (averaged 28.2 yards per catch in 2014). Cordarrelle Patterson isn’t panning out as planned and the Vikings need to pair someone with the newly acquired Mike Wallace.

Hazlett- Chris Conley, WR, Georgia (Highlights)

The Vikings added Mike Wallace over the offseason, giving them a deep threat. Chris Conley ran a 4.35 40 yard dash at the combine and can give the Vikings another speedster coming out of the slot position.

With the 88th pick, the Detroit Lions select…

DeWitt- Tre’ Jackson, OG, Florida State (No Highlights Available)

Not a sexy pick. Detroit’s not bringing back center Dominic Raiola and might not even bring back guard Rob Sims. This creates a need for an interior lineman. Jackson has the talent to be a dependable starter in the NFL, however he does have an issue maintaining his weight. It’s a slight gamble that the Lions need to take.

Hazlett- Byron Jones, CB, Connecticut (Highlights)

The Lions get a corner that will help them on and off the field. Not only does Jones work hard, he also inspires his fellow teammates to work harder. Detroit needs to add depth to their secondary, and Jones can be a leader for years to come.

 With the 94th pick, the Green Bay Packers select…

DeWitt- Michael Bennett, DT, Ohio State (No Highlights Available)

With one of the NFL’s top offenses, the Packers need to keep the focus on defense. Bennett has a quick burst and can get to the quarterback in a hurry.

Hazlett- Daryl Williams, OT, Oklahoma (No Highlights Available)

Daryl played well at the Senior Bowl. It’s reported that a lot of teams like his competitiveness and attitude. While the Pack only have three Tackles listed, I don’t see him getting much playing time. If he works hard enough, however, I would not be surprised to see him starting by the end of the season.

Note: * Some highlight videos may contain music with strong language.*

There you have it! Thank You for reading our first ever post. On behalf of Da Bears Brothers, I can honestly say that we sincerely hope you enjoyed this 2-in-1 mock draft. We appreciate each and every one of you!

Feel free to comment below with your opinion about our picks, and you can always share some picks of your own! Or Tweet us @DaBearsBros

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This is only the beginning!

Bear Down!

   – Will DeWitt