WalterPayton'S MOCK DRAFT
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WalterPayton'S MOCK DRAFT
RUN ON APR 6, 2026

DA BEARS

  • WalterPayton DRAFTING FOR THE
    Bears
Draft Selections
Akheem Mesidor Head Shot
PICK: 20 RND: 1 (CHI)
Akheem Mesidor
DL-EDGE Miami
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren Head Shot
PICK: 57 RND: 2 (CHI)
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
S Toledo
Christen Miller Head Shot
PICK: 63 RND: 2 (CHI)
Christen Miller
DL Georgia
Anthony Hill Jr. Head Shot
PICK: 65 RND: 3 (CHI)
Anthony Hill Jr.
LB Texas
J. Michael Sturdivant Head Shot
PICK: 129 RND: 4 (CHI)
J. Michael Sturdivant
WR Florida
Parker Brailsford Head Shot
PICK: 131 RND: 4 (CHI)
Parker Brailsford
C Alabama
VJ Payne Head Shot
PICK: 191 RND: 6 (CHI)
VJ Payne
S Kansas State
Jack Kelly Head Shot
PICK: 239 RND: 7 (CHI)
Jack Kelly
LB BYU
Thaddeus Dixon Head Shot
PICK: 241 RND: 7 (CHI)
Thaddeus Dixon
CB North Carolina
Jordan White Head Shot
PICK: 256 RND: 7 (CHI)
Jordan White
C Vanderbilt
Draft Picks Received
Akheem Mesidor Head Shot
PICK: 20 RND: 1 (DAL)
Akheem Mesidor
DL-EDGE Miami
Christen Miller Head Shot
PICK: 63 RND: 2 (NE)
Christen Miller
DL Georgia
Anthony Hill Jr. Head Shot
PICK: 65 RND: 3 (ARI)
Anthony Hill Jr.
LB Texas
Parker Brailsford Head Shot
PICK: 131 RND: 4 (NE)
Parker Brailsford
C Alabama
VJ Payne Head Shot
PICK: 191 RND: 6 (NE)
VJ Payne
S Kansas State
Jordan White Head Shot
PICK: 256 RND: 7 (DEN)
Jordan White
C Vanderbilt
No Pick Head Shot
PICK: RND: 7 (NE)
NEXT YEAR (2027)
 
Draft Picks Traded
Joshua Josephs Head Shot
PICK: 25 RND: 1 (DAL)
Joshua Josephs
DE-EDGE Tennessee
Elijah Sarratt Head Shot
PICK: 60 RND: 2 (DEN)
Elijah Sarratt
WR Indiana
Josiah Trotter Head Shot
PICK: 89 RND: 3 (ARI)
Josiah Trotter
LB Missouri
No Pick Head Shot
PICK: RND: 4 (LV)
NEXT YEAR (2027)
 
Draft Grade — Bears
Overall B
ValueC NeedB+ TradesA- FutureC+
A sensible, unshowy class lands the Bears a B.

The rest of the league had time to spare on J. Michael Sturdivant; the Bears did not wait, grabbing him 147 spots ahead at the 129th overall pick.

The Hill Jr. value carries more weight than any single miss elsewhere. The running back hole is the one line item this class does not answer.

A modest surplus at the table, banked quietly.

Good work on the whole, with running back the one box left unchecked.

Pick Analysis
Pick20 Rnd1 Akheem Mesidor
In pick 20 they get a premier pass rusher, reach and all. It fills the loudest need on the roster.
Pick57 Rnd2 Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
Fair-plus on Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, a quiet win that adds up over a draft. It thickens a room that could stand to be thicker.
Pick63 Rnd2 Christen Miller
Christen Miller at Round 2, Pick 31 is a sound buy, the sort that quietly helps a class. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
Pick65 Rnd3 Anthony Hill Jr.
Circle this one: Anthony Hill Jr. at the 65th pick is a fall that decides a draft. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
Pick129 Rnd4 J. Michael Sturdivant
Value said wait; J. Michael Sturdivant in pick No. 129 says they were not listening. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
Pick131 Rnd4 Parker Brailsford
They paid sticker price for Parker Brailsford in the Round 4 slot, and that is fine. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
Pick191 Rnd6 VJ Payne
They took VJ Payne at par in the 191st pick, which is nothing to complain about. Depth on depth, at a spot that was hardly crying out.
Pick239 Rnd7 Jack Kelly
They paid a round early for Jack Kelly in No. 239, more than the board wanted. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
Pick241 Rnd7 Thaddeus Dixon
Thaddeus Dixon at pick No. 241 is daylight robbery; nobody expected him to last. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Pick256 Rnd7 Jordan White
A real head-scratcher, Jordan White in pick 256 is miles ahead of his ranking. A need, and now a little less of one.