Bears Draft: What do they need?
With all this draft talk going on, it's time to think of the Bears draft. What do they need? Let's take a step back a minute. What positions are set?
I'd say QB, RB, OL and DL are well-stacked. The Bears don't even need to think of those positions next weekend. What else?
LB - Up until Sunday, I wouldn't have put LB high on the list. But then word got out that Lance Briggs' contract negotiations have turned sour. Drew Rosenhaus, aka the Devil, and Briggs' agent, is asking for more money than what Urlacher earns. I love Lance Briggs, but that's ridiculous. Lance Briggs - One Pro Bowl. Brian Urlacher - 5 Pro Bowls and two Defensive Player of the Year awards, finished in the top 5 of NFL MVP two times as well. If the Bears can't get an extension for Briggs, they'll need a Linebacker. Especially with Hillenmeyer's status up in the air as well. There's about five linebackers who are worthy of a number one pick, and if the Bears don't have Briggs locked up, I'd take any one of them.
CB - Nathan Vasher is nice. Charles Tillman's production is spotty, but overall he's pretty solid. After that, they've got a whole lot of nothin. Dante Wesley was signed for his special teams play, and he'll likely be resigned to dime coverage at most. After that is Chris Thompson and Daven Holly. Like I said, nothing. If the Bears don't draft a CB first, they surely will take one second. I like Jimmy Williams of Virginia Tech, but I don't see him making it to #26.
TE - The Bears haven't had an adequate Tight End since Keith Jennings. They haven't had a good Tight End since Emery Moorehead. They haven't had a great Tight End since Mike Ditka. It's time. Vernon Davis made all the scouts drool at the combine, and it's unlikely he'll make it out of the top ten. Mercedes Lewis and Leonard Pope look pretty good, but I'm not sure if either is worth a first round pick.
Safety - Mike Brown hasn't stayed healthy these past two seasons, and with his reckless style of play, I don't expect him to turn into Cal Ripken, Jr. any time soon. Neither of the top safeties in this draft figure to fall to #26, so the Bears will likely have to look at the secondary in later rounds.
WR - The Bears have some decent Receivers so this isn't a glaring need. Muhammed, Bradley, Berrian, Gage, and Currie are holding down the fort, and I think a solid receiving corps can be assembled out of that group. That said, if Chad Jackson or Santonio Holmes fall to 26, the Bears should grab them. All other WR picks can wait till the day two of the draft.
That's really about all the Bears need. Should they trade up? Again, it all depends on Briggs. If Briggs is unsigned and A.J. Hawk somehow drops out of the top ten, then absolutely trade up. If Briggs is signed and Jimmy Williams lasts until #20, the Bears should trade up and grab him. Basically, the Bears don't need to trade up, but if a special player falls to within reach, the Bears should go for it.