A few sample drafts adhere to the conventional methodology.
Some of the other drafts may be unconventional.
There are also some mock drafts that are blatantly offensive.
Expert in NFL.com analytics Cynthia Frelund has produced unconventional mock drafts in the past, but her selection of the Bears at No. 1 in her inaugural mock draft for 2024 shocked social media.
It appears that Frelund does not believe the Bears will trade for Justin Fields because she does not believe the Bears will draft Caleb Williams. She does not, however, see them selecting Jayden Daniels or quarterback Drake Maye. Furthermore, she has them passing on wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., who is perhaps the finest player available according to several draft boards.
Rather, she anticipates Notre Dame tackle Joe Alt to be Chicago’s first pick.
Nothing against Alt, but when he tackles, he looks like the whole Terminator. Braxton Jones, the left tackle for the Bears, is rated by Pro Football Focus as being between ordinary and above average against the rest of the league, but even with that grade, one may always improve.
But given the abundance of outstanding talent and open positions, this seems completely unrealistic.
In light of the fact that Frelund didn’t employ standard selection procedures and gave an explanation beforehand, Bears supporters were somewhat less hurt by this. In other words, smelling salts were all that was required rather than a defibrillator.
She includes free agents and selected players based on forecasts that might most significantly increase a team’s win total after comparing free agency data with project market value projects for free agents and cap space for each team.
“Alt just passes receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. in immediate impact for the Bears’ O-line, which allowed their QBs to be pressured at the highest rate in the league last season (45.1 percent),” writes Frelund.
Williams was naturally selected by the Washington Commanders for this prank.
Frelund selected LSU’s swift Malik Nabors at No. 9 in Round 1 to provide the Bears their wide receiver.
“He also has the lowest speed erosion when running after contact of any WR in the past three NFL Scouting Combine classes,” she stated.
These are based on some reliable analytical information.
Her reasoning is flawed since, even with the pressure rate taken into account, the offensive line only permitted a 3.4% sack rate with quarterback Tyson Bagent and a 10.6% rate with quarterback Brandon Fields. She should pay closer attention to the sack rate and pressure rate during Fields’ throwing motion. All of this suggests that their offensive line wasn’t entirely to blame for the pass blocking issues, therefore landing Fields’ top draft choice, Marvin Harrison Jr., may be more important than drafting a tackle. Two serious dangers to their defense in the passing game would then exist.
Analytics? Greg Blache, the former defensive coordinator for the Bears, was correct.
One time Blache said, “Numbers lie.” “Numbers are like your brother-in-law, they lie; they need to.”
While analytics are useful, there is a more effective and straightforward method: Require an exceptional quarterback, observe an exceptional quarterback, select an exceptional quarterback