Niner Noise
FanSided

2018 NFL Draft: Round 1 mock after flurry of NFL trade deadline deals

By Peter Panacy

CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 28: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell annonces DeForest Buckner of Oregon as the #7 overall pick by the San Francisco 49ers during the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University on April 28, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 28: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell annonces DeForest Buckner of Oregon as the #7 overall pick by the San Francisco 49ers during the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University on April 28, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images) /
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TUSCALOOSA, AL – SEPTEMBER 30: Minkah Fitzpatrick #29 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts after he and Isaiah Buggs #49 sack Shea Patterson #20 of the Mississippi Rebels at Bryant-Denny Stadium on September 30, 2017 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
TUSCALOOSA, AL – SEPTEMBER 30: Minkah Fitzpatrick #29 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts after he and Isaiah Buggs #49 sack Shea Patterson #20 of the Mississippi Rebels at Bryant-Denny Stadium on September 30, 2017 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Alabama. Minkah Fitzpatrick. 9. player. 57. . Safety

It might be wise to target one of the high-ranked wide receivers in this year’s draft, as the Chicago Bears look to get consistent weapons to help out rookie quarterback Mitchell Trubisky.

Someone like Washington State’s James Washington would fit the bill, but the Bears simply can’t pass up on the opportunity to take Alabama free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick here.

Fitzpatrick is the No. 2-ranked prospect, according to CBS Sports, and he already has a polished collegiate career playing under head coach Nick Saban. Chicago certainly needs a boost in its secondary, and a rangy playmaking defensive back like Fitzpatrick would be a valuable commodity in coordinator Vic Fangio’s defense.