Phinsider Community Mock Draft: Bears add to the ground game with 11th overall pick

Technical difficulties forced the Phinsider Community Mock Draft to take an off day on Tuesday, but it returns today with the 11th overall selection. The Chicago Bears are on the clock at this point, and they will be looking to add some explosion to a team that will be changing offenses after former offensive coordinator Adam Gase moved to the Miami Dolphins as head coach this offseason.

Chicago comes into the draft needing to address the offensive line, as well as their pass rush and secondary. They could also be looking for a quarterback to develop behind Jay Cutler, but that should be later in the Draft, rather than in the first round being projected in this mock draft. Houtz steps in as the general manager for the Bears.

With the 11th overall pick in the Phinsider Community Mock Draft, Houtz selects for the Chicago Bears, Ezekiel Elliott, running back, Ohio State.

Chicago has a tough decision to make with several elite defensive players still on the board. Instead, the Bears chose to select an elite running back.

The Bears lost Matt Forte to the Jets this offseason, a move that weakened the team's backfield immensely. Despite the emergence of rookie running back Jeremy Langford, the Bears understand the need for an elite running back. Chicago made a rich offer to running back CJ Anderson, who opted to sign Miami's tender before ultimately being retained by the Broncos. With Ezekiel Elliott available at 11, the Bears were able to land the draft's best running back.

They say running backs are a dime a dozen, however; that saying does not apply to Ezekiel Elliott. Throughout college, he proved he was among the country's best, utilizing his rare size and speed to breakdown opposing defenses. He contributed on the ground as well as through the air. Most importantly, he kept his quarterback clean, proving to be a menace in pass protection.

The addition of Elliott gives the Bears a tandem of running backs, capable of carrying the workload for years to come. Elliott is an instant game changer and will be a huge addition to an offense that loves to utilize their running backs.

Analysis

Chicago adding a running back should not be a surprise. Forte is no longer there, as Houtz said, and the NFL has become a two-running back league, unless you have someone like Adrian Peterson. Jeremy Langford is a good running back, but he is not Peterson, so the addition of Elliott gives Chicago the one-two running back punch. I think most people would mock a defensive pick for Chicago here, particularly defensive end or cornerback, but getting the top running back this season, in a division where running the ball becomes critical late in the year, is a solid move.

Completed Draft Picks:

1 - Tennessee Titans - Phinaholic - Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss
2 - Cleveland Browns - xkar25 - DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon
3 - San Diego Chargers - Blaze453 - Jalen Ramsey, S, Florida State
4 - Dallas Cowboys - tapp35 - Myles Jack, LB, UCLA
5 - Jacksonville Jaguars - Agent J 78 - Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State
6 - Baltimore Ravens - scrappy the wildcat - Vernon Hargreaves III, CB, Florida
7 - San Francisco 49ers - Andy in Omaha - Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State
8 - Philadelphia Eagles (from Miami) - dolphinfan4lyfe - Jared Goff, QB, Cal
9 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers - SUTTON - Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame
10 - New York Giants - darrel.owen - Leonard Floyd, LB, Georgia
11 - Chicago Bears - Houtz - Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State

Next Picks:

12 - New Orleans Saints - Hollywood Dolfan - Posting Wednesday afternoon
13 - Miami Dolphins (from Philadelphia) - Blue or CONZILLA - Posting Thursday morning