After just another routine day in the NFL, the Chicago Bears have acquired more 2022 NFL Draft picks by trading star pass rusher Khalil Mack to the Los Angeles Chargers. The Bears will now select two times in Round 2 as well as two times in Round 5. Where exactly do their new picks from the Chargers land? And what can they expect with their current draft order?
Chicago Bears draft picks in 2022
- Round 2 | Pick 39
Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington - Round 2 | Pick 48 (from LAC)
Jaquan Brisker, S, Penn State - Round 3 | Pick 71
Velus Jones Jr., WR, Tennessee - Round 5 | Pick 168 (from BUF)
Braxton Jones, OT, Southern Utah - Round 5 | Pick 174 (from CIN)
Dominique Robinson, EDGE, Miami-Ohio - Round 6 | Pick 186
Zachary Thomas, OL, San Diego State - Round 6 | Pick 203 (from BUF)
Trestan Ebner, RB, Baylor - Round 6 | Pick 207 (from SF via NYJ and HOU)
Doug Kramer, C, Illinois - Round 7 | Pick 226 (from NYG via CIN)
Ja’Tyre Carter, OT, Southern - Round 7 | Pick 254 (from LAC)
Elijah Hicks, S, CAL - Round 7 | Pick 255 (from LAC)
Trenton Gill, P, NC State
The Bears traded Mack just days before the new league year started, acquiring multiple picks. Mack was sent to the Los Angeles Chargers in exchange for two draft selections, one in 2022 and one a year later. The Chargers sent the Bears a second-round choice in 2022, while their 2023 pick resides in the sixth round.
Of course, the Bears are without their first- and fourth-round picks in the 2022 NFL Draft after trading up with the New York Giants a season ago to acquire Justin Fields. The Bears are also without their seventh-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, which they shipped to the Houston Texans along with Anthony Miller. Chicago acquired a fifth-round pick (No. 148) from Houston in that trade.
Chicago Bears’ 2022 NFL Draft team needs
Prior to dealing Mack, the Bears had but a few needs. Their top needs lived mainly on offense, but all three levels of defense could use some assistance through the draft. With Mack now gone, they lack a true No. 1 pass rusher. Fortunately for the Bears, the 2022 NFL Draft is loaded with edge talent.
It’d be a real shame for the Bears to leave Round 2 without an edge defender. With a front-loaded class, the market value on the top edge rushers is set to skyrocket in the first round of the draft. However, with so many teams likely to move on an edge defender in Round 1, there will be a bevy of high-quality options for Chicago to select with either of their second-round selections.
As it stands now, here are the Bears’ top needs:
- Offensive Tackle
- Wide Receiver
- Defensive Tackle
- Edge Defender
- Cornerback