Bears Draft Preview
By Benjy Lipsman in News on Apr 25, 2012 3:20PM
When you're the Indianapolis Colts and hold the first pick, you can announce to the world that you're taking Andrew Luck. But Bears rookie GM Phil Emery has no such luck with the 19th selection in the first round. Instead, the Bears enter the draft with a list of seven that are their key targets.
Topping the Bears needs list is defensive line help, so a number of spots on that list are likely defensive ends or defensive tackles. The Bears need to replace Amobi Okoye and Anthony Adams in the middle, as well as provide some help for Julius Peppers and Israel Idonije on the ends. Fortunately for the Bears, this year's draft is incredibly deep in defensive linemen. While the top couple (Fletcher Cox, Melvin Ingram) will likely go well before the Bears draft, they should have plenty of options available at 19.
If the Bears go for interior line help, players like Dontari Poe (Memphis), Jerel Worthy (Michigan State) or Michael Brockers (LSU) might be on their radar. Poe has jumped up draft boards in recent weeks, but others question his performance—especially in a 4-3 set-up.
On the end, the Bears might have their eyes on Quinton Coples (North Carolina), Chandler Jones (Syracuse), Whitney Mercilus (Illinois) Nick Perry (USC) and Shea McClellin (Boise St.). Some of these ends project to outside linebackers in 3-4 systems that are coming back into vogue across the NFL, but the Bears have been known to employee speedy pass rushers in their 4-3 system, too.
Should the Bears choose to wait until later rounds to address their defensive line issues, the Bears could look to take a wide receiver. Notre Dame's Michael Floyd and Baylor's Kendall Wright might still be available. The Bears' wideouts haven't been a team strength of late, and the loss of Johnny Knox for at least some of the season0 creates a hole opposite Brandon Marshall for a number two receiver.
Offensive line also remains a possibility for the first round, although after using first rounders on Gabe Carimi last year and Chris Williams in 2008—their last two first round picks—we're not sure they'll continue to draft O-line that high. The line actually showed signs of improvement last season, even with injuries, but adding more depth on the line would be important in the middle rounds.
The NFL Draft begins on Thursday, with the first round. We'll be back on Friday with a recap of the Bears' top pick. Second and third rounds follow on Friday night, with the final four rounds taking place on Saturday.