Bears Expected To Focus On Defense In NFL Draft

By Benjy Lipsman in News on May 8, 2014 3:30PM

Last year, the Chicago Bears retooled their offense via free agency and the draft. The results worked, with the Bears among the top scoring teams in the league. However, their defense fell apart due to age and injury, resulting in a mediocre 8-8 record. This offseason, management has worked to upgrade the defense with a number of free agent signings, but the work is not done. That's why we expect the Bears will concentrate on that side of the ball when the NFL draft kicks off later tonight. The first round begins at 7 p.m. Rounds two and three take place Friday evening, while the final four rounds take place Saturday.

Basically, if the best player on the board plays defense when the Bears are ready to pick, they could be a huge help to the team next season. The Bears' most glaring weaknesses are at defensive tackle and at safety, and they could also use some help at cornerback. But if the defensive player available is a linebacker, the Bears could go that way, too. GM Phil Emery has gambled with his first two first rounders, Shea McClellin and Kyle Long, but he needs to focus on finding somebody who can offer immediate help.

The player most commonly associated with the Bears in the countless mock drafts is Aaron Donald, a defensive tackle out of Pitt. Considered undersized at 6 foot, 1 inch and 285 pounds, Donald has climbed the draft boards after his performances in the Senior Bowl and at the pre-draft combine, and looks to be a player who can contribute from day one. Florida State's Timmy Jernigan and Louis Nix from Notre Dame are also possibilities should the Bears go for line help first. Players like Arizona State’s Will Sutton and Florida’s Dominique Easley might be their targets if they wait until the second round.

With the loss of Major Wright to free agency, Chris Conte's poor play last year and his recovery from shoulder surgery, the Bears could select Alabama's Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Louisville's Calvin Pryor. Pryor is known as a hard hitter, which should go over well with Bears fans, but he can get beat in coverage which can be dangerous in a division with quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers and Matt Stafford. Clinton-Dix is a ball hawk who can also hit, but could use more strength as he adapts to the NFL. Washington State's Deone Bucannon is another player the Bears appear to be impressed with, but drafting him at 14 is probably too high, so unless they trade down in the first round or trade up should he slip into the second he's not as likely a target.

Cornerback isn't as urgent a need with Pro Bowlers Tim Jennings and Peanut Tillman returning, but Tillman's age and the one-year deal he signed in the offseason mean the Bears need to begin building for the future while also addressing their nickel package. This year's draft is also deep at cornerback, suggesting that the Bears might be best served waiting until at least the second or third round before looking at corners. NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock has 11 cornerbacks in his top 100 prospects and six in the top 30, so the Bears should have attractive options available. Some corners who might be worthy of selection at the 14 spot include Virginia Tech's Kyle Fuller, Michigan State's Darqueze Dennard and Justin Gilbert, from Oklahoma State. Gilbert is most likely to be off the board before the Bears turn, but if he's not he may be too good to pass up.

Linebacker is the Bears strongest current position on defense, but the team might add depth there simply based on who the best defensive player available is on the board. Three linebackers rate among the top 15 prospects, and if one falls to the Bears Emery might have a hard time backing off, despite having Lance Briggs and D.J. Williams as two starters, and Jon Bostic and McClellin moving over to linebacker. Anthony Barr and C.J. Mosley could slip to the Bears should teams ahead of them go for quarterbacks in the first round.

Whichever way Emery goes tonight, he needs to focus on getting somebody who can step in and contribute from week one. While last year's gamble on Kyle Long paid off in spades, McClellin's selection the year before continues to look like a bust. A safer pick will better insure that the retooling of the defense is complete enough for the Bears to contend in 2014. Tomorrow, we'll report back on who the Bears picked with their top draft selection.