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Bears mock draft: Ryan Poles bolsters trenches after Justin Fields, Keenan Allen trades originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago

The Bears were one of the busiest teams in the NFL this week as they made two headline-grabbing trades and continued to fill out their roster through free agency. Sending Justin Fields to the Steelers and bringing in star wide receiver Keenan Allen from the Chargers sent shockwaves through the league, but lesser-heralded moves like signing center Coleman Shelton could be just as impactful when the regular season rolls around.

Given all that’s happened, it stands to reason that the Bears’ draft priorities have changed. Namely, how do they acquire more picks?

As things stand, the Bears only have four selections this year. But GM Ryan Poles is no stranger to draft day deals, so that could change. Here’s a mock draft where he’s as active as ever.

As always, this mock draft is not an attempt to predict what the Bears will actually do when they’re back in the War Room next offseason. That’s impossible. Nor is it meant as a recommendation of what the Bears should do. This mock draft is meant to be a fun way to discuss wild ideas, dig into some of the intriguing college prospects this season, and project how those players may fit in Chicago.

The Fields trade ensures the Bears will draft a rookie QB. The Bears still need to see Williams’ medical info and need to spend more time with him in private meetings. Barring any surprises there, he’ll be the pick. Williams’ college tape is as good as it gets.

For all our coverage on the QB phenom, click here.

TRADE! BEARS SEND NO. 9 PICK, 2025 SIXTH-ROUND PICK TO SAINTS FOR NOS. 14, 45, 168 PICKS.

With plenty of top-level talent still available, Poles uses the opportunity to move back a few spots to recoup a few picks. The Saints take stud right tackle Taliese Fuaga to better protect Derek Carr.

TRADE! BEARS SEND NO. 14 PICK TO DOLPHINS FOR NOS. 21, 55 PICKS

Brock Bowers is still on the board…

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Three of the NFL’s six highest-paid quarterbacks play in the AFC North. Then, you have Russell Wilson, who is slated to start for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024 while playing under a veteran’s minimum salary.

Wilson signed a one-year, $1.21 million deal with the Steelers, while the Broncos are paying him $39 million not to play for them this season. The amount of money Pittsburgh is saving isn’t lost on Wilson, who said that his cheap salaries is one of the biggest benefits of joining the Steelers.  

“When you think about it, to be released but then to come here and to know that it’s not going to cost very much,” Wilson said with a laugh during an interview with Steelers.com. “The best part about it is we get to add more players and do more things, and really, go win. Go win now and that’s our focus.”

Wilson’s signing is already paying dividends. After signing Wilson, the Steelers went out and signed former Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen to a three-year, $41 million deal. They also signed veteran safety DeShon Elliott to a two-year, $6 million deal and veteran wideout Van Jefferson to a one-year deal. 

The Steelers aren’t done yet, either. With about $15 million in cap space, Pittsburgh is still in the market for a veteran wideout. There is reportedly mutual interest between Pittsburgh and Tyler Boyd, who is drawing interest from several teams. The Steelers could also choose to pursue Mike Williams, the Chargers’ former 1,000-yard wideout who was recently released. 

The extra cap space will also give the Steelers the ability to sign players in-season if a notable player somehow become available. Injuries are inevitable, so having extra money to sign someone in a pinch is never a bad thing. 

Wilson’s contract allowed the Steelers to acquire Justin Fields in a trade with the Chicago Bears. The Steelers will pay less than $4.5 million this season for both Wilson and Fields. 

While…

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New 49ers CB Yiadom has eye-popping success in press coverage originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The 49ers might have acquired a hidden gem when they agreed to terns with veteran free-agent cornerback Isaac Yiadom on a one-year contract Friday.

Yiadom, a six-year NFL veteran, ranks among the league’s best in press coverage and is a low-risk, high-reward option for new 49ers defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen’s evolving unit.

A scatter plot graph of Pro Football Focus data constructed by Arjun Menon offers a clear visual for what Yiadom brings to San Francisco following a career year with the New Orleans Saints.

Yiadom, 6-foot-1, stands out on the graph’s right peak beyond stars Sauce Gardner and A.J. Terrell, strongly performing with a press coverage rate of over 40 percent.

During the 2023 NFL season, Yiadom was a force in close-contact situations with wide receivers, owning a 30.4-percent incompletion rate.

He also tied for the seventh-most passes defended (14) despite only starting eight games. His new 49ers teammate, Charvarius Ward, led the NFL with 23 PDUs over 17 starts.

Yiadom made a name for himself on the Saints by only allowing 23 receptions on 47 targets. He finished 22nd in PFF’s coverage grading (80.4) and 14th in overall grading (81.1).

And of course, Yiadom’s tape supports his numbers.

The 28-year-old mainly served as a standout special teamer in New Orleans before breaking out as a tight coverage connoisseur. Yiadom played 515 defensive snaps last season while making 267 special teams appearances — his versatility presumably is valuable to San Francisco.

The former Saint is a journeyman who also has suited up for the Broncos, New York Giants, Green Bay Packers and Houston Texans after being selected No. 35 by Denver in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Ideally for the 49ers, Yiadom’s one-year “prove it” deal will turn into an extended partnership down the line.

The Boston College product has posted 26 PDUs, two interceptions and 158 total tackles in…

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One of the top remaining free agents is off the board, as CBS Sports HQ senior NFL insider Josina Anderson reports that the New York Jets will sign former Dallas Cowboys All-Pro left tackle Tyron Smith to a one-year deal. New York is working to upgrade its offensive line, which allowed 64 total sacks in 2023, tied for fourth-most in the league.

Smith explained his decision to sign with New York on the phone to Anderson. 

“I would’ve love to have stayed home in Dallas, but as we all know it’s a business the way it works,” Smith said. “I still feel like the Jets have an opportunity to win it, and anything I can do for the team to help them out, I’m going to do me best to do it.”

The 33-year-old has spent his entire career with the Cowboys, as Smith was selected by Dallas with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft out of USC. It was reported earlier this month that Smith was not expected to return to the Cowboys, as The Dallas Morning News said it became clear at the NFL Combine that the two sides stood drastically apart when it came to financial framework.

Smith has started in all 161 career games played, and is a five-time All-Pro and eight-time Pro Bowler. While injuries have affected Smith’s availability recently, he has been great when in the lineup. In 2023, PFF awarded Smith an 88.6 pass-blocking grade, the highest in the entire league among offensive linemen to play 100 or more snaps. 

Upgrading the offensive line to keep Aaron Rodgers healthy was likely the No. 1 item on New York’s offseason to-do list, and Smith is excited to block for a future Pro Football Hall of Famer.

“I feel like it’s going to be amazing,” Smith said. “Of course me being with Dallas, he’s kicked our butts twice in the playoffs — so I know what he’s capable of. Honestly, I’m just excited about the opportunity.”

This unit struggled mightily in 2023, and was also hit hard by injuries….

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