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Ryan Poles didn’t make a splash on his first draft night as Chicago Bears general manager, but that was expected.
The Bears didn’t have a first-round pick because former GM Ryan Pace traded it last year to move up to draft quarterback Justin Fields, and Poles didn’t execute a trade up into the first round Thursday night.
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Instead he will try to select impactful players Friday on Day 2, when the Bears have the Nos. 39 and 48 picks in the second round and No. 71 in the third round.
Nine offensive linemen, six wide receivers and four cornerbacks were selected in the first round, but many other interesting prospects are available. Here are some noteworthy players still on the board at the Bears’ three biggest positions of need and a handful of other prospects who might merit consideration.
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Luke Goedeke, G, Central Michigan: Teammate Bernhard Raimann has been discussed more widely by draftniks, but league personnel have been buzzing about Goedeke since his pro day workout. He played right tackle for the Chippewas but likely will be a guard as a pro.
Cam Jurgens, C, Nebraska: If the Bears like the idea of sliding Lucas Patrick over to right guard, they could add Jurgens as a rookie who should compete for a starting role immediately.
Dylan Parham, G, Memphis: After failing in their bid to add Ryan Bates as a restricted free agent, the Bears have a need at right guard. Adding Parham after a trade down in Round 2 or in Round 3 could fill that void.
Nicholas Petit-Frere, OT, Ohio State: A right tackle for the Buckeyes in 2020, he shifted to the left side last fall. Petit-Frere has the athleticism to remain on the left side but would need to be developed.
Bernhard Raimann, OT, Central Michigan: A transfer student from Austria, Raimann arrived at Central Michigan as a tight end before being converted to the offensive line. He settled in at left tackle during the COVID-shortened 2020 season and showed real improvement last fall. Some thought he was a potential first-round pick, but knee issues might have dropped him on some boards.
Andrew Booth Jr., Clemson: The Bears have a real need at nickel cornerback, and that could be where Booth projects best in the NFL. Some thought he would be selected in the back half of the first round.
Kyler Gordon, Washington: Many figured he would go in Round 1 with Huskies teammate Trent McDuffie. The Bears need a starter opposite Jaylon Johnson, so it’s possible if Gordon is available the position could trump their needs on the O-line and at receiver.
Roger McCreary, Auburn: Played well in press man last season, when he led the SEC in pass breakups.
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Cam Taylor-Britt, Nebraska: Skilled zone corner could be a good fit for what coach Matt Eberflus wants to do on defense, especially in Round 3.
Tariq Woolen, Texas-San Antonio: Rare combination of size (6-foot-4, 205 pounds), length (33⅝-inch arms) and speed (4.26 seconds in the 40-yard dash) makes Woolen an intriguing Day 2 prospect.
Calvin Austin III, Memphis: The former walk-on is small at 5-8, 170 pounds. But he’s also lightning quick and ran a 4.32-second 40-yard dash at the combine.
John Metchie III, Alabama: Known for his toughness, Metchie was sidelined in December with an ACL tear and didn’t participate in on-field pre-draft activities. But before that he had 96 catches for 1,142 yards and eight touchdowns in 13 games in 2021.
Skyy Moore, Western Michigan: Touted for his crisp route running, savvy in getting open and willingness to make contested catches. He had 95 catches for 1,292 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2021.
George Pickens, Georgia: A gifted wide receiver whose stock dropped after he missed most of the 2021 season with a torn ACL. His best season came as a freshman in 2019 (49 catches, 727 yards, eight touchdowns).
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Alec Pierce, Cincinnati: The former Glenbard West multisport athlete utilizes size, athleticism and speed to make an impact, including 52 catches for 884 yards and eight touchdowns in 2021.
Wan’Dale Robinson, Kentucky: After two seasons at Nebraska, he transferred to Kentucky and had 104 catches for 1,334 yards. He’s undersized but athletic and excellent with the ball in his hands.
Jalen Tolbert, South Alabama: A smooth playmaker who totaled 2,559 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns in his final two seasons, though he’ll have a big jump in level of competition in the NFL.
Christian Watson, North Dakota State: He has explosiveness and speed — which he showed off with a 4.36-second 40-yard dash at the combine — to go with solid production at the FCS level. But he’s another one who has a leap in competition ahead.
Logan Hall, DL, Houston: He made a top-30 visit to Halas Hall and has the versatility to be used similarly to how Eberflus deployed DeForest Buckner in Indianapolis.
Nik Bonitto, edge, Oklahoma: He had 32 tackles for a loss and 18½ sacks in his college career, including 15 sacks over the last two seasons. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.54 seconds
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Arnold Ebiketie, edge, Penn State: After transferring from Temple for his fifth-year senior season, he totaled 17 tackles for a loss, 9½ sacks and two forced fumbles.
Boye Mafe, edge, Minnesota: Mafe had 15 sacks in his college career, including seven in 2021. He’s a fast, explosive athlete who needs development.
David Ojabo, edge, Michigan: The Scottish-Nigerian edge rusher had 11 sacks and five forced fumbles in 2021. But he suffered a torn Achilles tendon at Michigan’s pro day and is recovering.
Nakobe Dean, ILB, Georgia: Dean doesn’t play a position of great need for the Bears. But many analysts rank the 2021 Butkus Award winner and first-team All-American as the best player available, with some having predicted he would go in the middle of the first round.
Jaquan Brisker, S, Penn State: He was named a second-team All-American by multiple outlets as a fifth-year senior in 2021 after transferring from junior college in 2019. A defensive leader for the Nittany Lions, he had 153 tackles, 9½ for a loss, five interceptions and 14 pass breakups in 21 career starts.
Kerby Joseph, S, Illinois: Joseph had five interceptions, seven passes defended and three fumble recoveries in 2021.
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Jalen Pitre, S, Baylor: The versatile safety had two interceptions, nine passes defended, three forced fumbles, three sacks and 18 tackles for a loss as a fifth-year senior.