Chicago Bears 2009 NFL Draft Preview

Mmm… draft weekend. I live for it. Call me crazy, call me an NFL freak, but I simply can’t get enough Mel Kiper or Todd McShay spouting off intangibles of some cornerback out of Florida State in the fifth round. I will be pasted to my couch this weekend, analyzing every Bears selection and dutifully following the ticker at the bottom of the screen.

Bears General Manager Jerry Angelo traded away a small chunk of this year’s draft in the now epic Jay Cutler deal. So instead of at 18, his first pick comes off the board at 49, in the middle of the second round. Also, his instead of two third round picks at 84 and 99, he is left with the latter, a compensatory pick awarded for losing Bernard Berrian in free agency last off-season.  Still, even with those losses, Angelo has a great deal of work ahead of him on this draft weekend with seven picks total (One in each round 2-6, two compensatory picks in round 7). What should he do? What do the Bears need? I break it down right here, right now.

Wide Receiver:
Um…this is still a “duh.” Since the Jaguars signed Torry Holt to a three-year contract, the Bears have little to chase in free agency. They released Marty Booker and allowed Brandon Lloyd to seek employment elsewhere. Their only remaining receivers are the confused Devin Hester, the unsure-handed Rashied Davis, and the unproven Earl Bennett. That receiver corps doesn’t exactly help Cutler out. In fact, it will probably hinder his growth a great deal if Angelo doesn’t bring in another immediate threat. His second round selection will almost surely be a wide receiver, perhaps Brian Robiskie or Hakeem Nicks if either are still on the board, or probably Georgia’s Mohamed Massaquoi. It’s not a guarantee he’ll draft another wide-out, but it’s a fairly safe bet. No wide receiver taken in the second round will likely be a game-changer off the bat, but it’d be nice to see a contribution on the field this year. (*cough*Earl Bennett*cough*)

Offensive Line:
After the signings of Frank Omiyale, Kevin Schaffer, and Orland Pace, this is not the position of need it was when the off-season began. Still, the Bears will use at least one of their selections to get younger along the line and develop future starters. They could use a hybrid guard that can play center, unless they’re assuming Dan Buenning will eventually take over when Olin Kreutz retires. In a press conference yesterday, Angelo detailed their newest criteria for selecting linemen as wanting tackles who can play guard, so they can maximize their versatility and prepare for any injuries that may occur. Look for Angelo to draft on the O-line in the third or fourth rounds.

Safety:
Chicago’s problems at the safety position are well-documented over the past few seasons. It has always been a race to get the most out of Mike Brown until he inevitably is injured and lost for the season and then it’s a mad rush to find the most suitable replacement on the roster. After releasing Brown, Angelo can take more of his time to fill that void with someone who fits their system and can start right away. He commented on the idea, saying that he would likely be able to find undrafted safeties that could help the Bears on defense (really?). Craig Steltz showed promise last season filling in for Brown, but was exposed in coverage. He played like a strong safety, wanting to crowd the line and punish the runner as opposed to a free safety, where covering downfield is the primary concern.

Defensive line:
Since when is this NOT an area of need? It seems every off-season we’re discussing adding depth in the event that Tommie Harris misses time (which he will). Having too many skilled tackles is never a problem, but the defensive end spot dragged last year, with Mark Anderson disappearing and Adewale Ogunleye not justifying his hefty price tag. Alex Brown was the only end close to pulling his weight, but even he is vastly overpaid.  Angelo is ALWAYS looking for solid d-line talent. He’s liable to take a flier on a lineman with any pick.

Linebacker:
Normally a position of strength, last year’s defense showed considerable drop-off in its linebacker play. Lance Briggs has surpassed Brian Urlacher as the elite member of the squad, but that is accredited to Urlacher’s decline as much as Briggs’ emergence. Hunter Hillenmeyer was injured part of the season and barely found his way on the field once healthy. Nick Roach filled in at the strong-side spot, but still let too many plays get by him. Drafting for the strong-side or an eventual successor for Urlacher in the later rounds would be a smart move for Angelo.

Since Jerry Angelo doesn’t believe in chasing high price free agents, he tends to build his team mainly through the draft. After trading for Cutler, he has little room to miss with his seven choices. Whoever joins the Bears this weekend you can be sure I’ll be here to cover it for you!

Check back soon for a Bears Draft recap!