NFL Draft Preview
By Benjy Lipsman in News on Apr 25, 2008 4:49PM
Was it really only a year ago that the Bears were coming off a Super Bowl appearance and looking toward the draft simply to shore up some depth at a couple spots and add some minor components that'd help them go all the way?
Because entering this year's draft, the Bears are chock full o' holes that need to be addressed if the team has any hopes of improving upon last season's 7-9 record.
Most of the Bears weaknesses are on the offensive side of the ball. They need a real quarterback because Sexy Rexy and Neck Beard are not the answer. They need some wide receivers after losing Bernard Berrian in free agency and cutting Mushin Muhammed. A running back better than Cedric Benson. And some offensive line help because none of them are getting any younger or healthier. How well can they address all these needs?
This year's draft is light on elite quarterbacks, but with Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton atop the depth chart, the Bears need to get better at this position long term. On the other hand, without an adequate offensive line, drafting a QB is a waste. Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan is the only certain first rounder and he's likely be picked before the Bears pick 14th.
The same argument could be used to talk Bears GM Jerry Angelo out of picking a running back. While Cedric Benson rarely looked even mediocre most of last season, it's hard to determine how much was his fault and how much was the lack of blocking ahead of him. For those reasons, and because the draft board is heavy on O-line this year, the Bears should focus there in the first round. But if former Illini running back Rashard Mendenhall is still on the board when the Bears pick, he may be too tempting for them to pass on.
Wide receiver is yet another position requiring some attention. A receiving corp of Mark Bradley, Marty Booker, Rashied Davis and Devin Hester won't exactly strike fear into any opponent -- at least until Hester can learn to run a route.
On the defensive side of the ball, safety is the clear priority for the Bears. They foolishly traded Chris Harris before last season, only to see Mike Brown go down with yet another injury and Adam Archeuleta fail to do anything positive on the field. However, this years is a very weak year for safeties so the Bears might want to try for a diamond in the rough in later rounds.
The Bears have major work to do on rebuilding the team, so Chicagoist will be planted in front our TV all weekend to watch how things unfold. Check back Monday, when we'll give our take on how the Bears' draft went.