Chicago Bears 2012 NFL Draft Preview
By Zac Snyder
Preview provided by Mike Burzawa. Head to Bear Goggles On for more on the the Chicago Bears.
What are the team needs for the Chicago Bears heading into the draft?
Pull up a chair. There are few positions that the Bears could draft that wouldn’t fill a need. Their most glaring offseason need, wide receiver, seems to have been addressed with the Brandon Marshall trade, but with Johnny Knox recovering from a nasty spinal injury suffered late last season, the Bears could look to add another weapon for Jay Cutler. Besides that, they could target help at offensive line, defensive end or cornerback and come away with an immediate contributor that could fill a need.
Who are some prospects you’d like to see end up with the Chicago Bears?
I’ve really taken a liking to CB Stephan Gilmore out of South Carolina. He’d be a great fit in the Bears’ Cover-2 defense. I am really intrigued by defensive end Whitney Mercilus out of Illinois. He led the nation in sacks and had a bunch of tackles for loss and forced fumbles. Those kinds of opportunistic plays certainly raise a few eyebrows, but the big question is whether or not he’s a 1-trick pony or a consistent 3-down DE worthy of a 1st round selection. Deeper in the draft, I like WR Mohammed Sanu out of Rutgers. He’s a big target with tons of upside. I also really like TE Coby Fleener out of Stanford. If he were to slide into the second round, I would love to see the Bears make a move to grab him.
What would represent a successful draft in your opinion?
The Bears fired Jerry Angelo and brought in Phil Emery to “close the talent gap” that they have in their division. For the 2012 draft to be successful, the Bears need to get at least 2-3 quality starters who can step in and contribute immediately.
Give us a bold prediction for your team
Bold, huh? Try this on for size. The Bears, tired of Matt Forte’s crying about a new contract, package Forte and pick #19 to move up to the Browns spot at #4 and take USC’s Matt Kalil, locking up their left tackle of the future. I know, keep dreaming.