2021 NFL Draft: Best available players for Bears in second, third round

Jenkins was projected to go in the middle or late in the first round, but slipped to Day 2. | AP Photos

A look at the best available talent on Day 2 as the Bears eye offensive tackles, cornerbacks and wide receivers.

The Bears disregarded their most pressing needs for the upcoming season to trade up and take Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields at No. 11 overall Thursday. It’s a thrilling pick, but there’s more work ahead.

At the top of the to-do list: Find an offensive tackle.

The Bears are currently heading into the season with Charles Leno at left tackle and Germain Ifedi at right. Had they stayed at No. 20, they likely would’ve addressed that need. Instead, they can try again Friday in the second round (No. 52 overall) or third (No. 83).

It will be nearly impossible for them to trade up more than a few spots, so it’s unlikely they can get Oklahoma State tackle Teven Jenkins — a popular first-round projection who slipped to Day 2. They will probably be eying Stanford’s Walker Little or Texas’ Samuel Cosmi instead.

The best cornerbacks in their range are Washington’s Elijah Molden, Syracuse’s Ifeatu Melifonwu and Kentucky’s Kelvin Joseph.

One of the top wide receivers, Ole Miss’ Elijah Moore, slipped out of the first round, but probably won’t fall far enough for the Bears. The top receivers they could potentially reach at No. 52 are LSU’s Terrace Marshall, Purdue’s Rondale Moore and Western Michigan’s D’Wayen Eskridge.

After their third-round pick, the Bears aren’t up again until the sixth round at No. 204 overall. They also pick at Nos 208, 221 and 228 in the sixth.

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