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One Position Emerging For Chicago Bears As Big 2016 Need

By Erik Lambert

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Oct 4, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears nose tackle Eddie Goldman (91) celebrates with Chicago Bears defensive end Jarvis Jenkins (96), Chicago Bears outside linebacker Pernell McPhee (92) and Chicago Bears linebacker Lamarr Houston (99) after he sacked Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) in the first half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

It’s never a good idea to try guessing where a team will focus in a draft during the first month of a new season because so many things can happen before then and coaches aren’t sure where the team is strong or weak.  Now that some time has passed, John Fox and GM Ryan Pace have to be seeing what others are in regards to the Chicago Bears.

This team is getting painfully short of defensive linemen, especially at the end position.

Really the problems began in the off-season.  The Bears didn’t have any ideal players considered a prime fit for a 3-4 end, so they were forced to covert players from defensive tackle who might make it work then add a free agent or two on top of that.

Jarvis Jenkins, a former 2nd round pick of Washington was one of the first additions and he’s panned out very well.  However, the man expected to really help the team, former 49ers standout Ray McDonald, ruined his chances when he was arrested for domestic violence.

So the Bears went into the season not only lacking talent but depth at a key position.  In spite of it all, they’ve made it work to a degree but things have just continued to get worse.  Cornelius Washington, their former 6th round pick in 2013 and viewed as a possible perfect fit there, was lost for the season.  He has since been joined by another.

Ego Ferguson was a big contributor for the team against the run and his loss forced the Bears to sign second-year man Bruce Gaston off the Green Bay Packers’ practice squad.  In truth this team is scraping the bottom of the barrel at this point and may be forced to get creative the rest of the season, silently praying nobody else goes down.

That pretty much indicates it’s a foregone conclusion that Chicago will be active on the 3-4 defensive end front in 2016, both in free agency and the NFL draft.  Here are names to watch.

Top 5 Free Agents

  • Muhammad Wilkerson (New York Jets)
  • B.J. Raji (Green Bay Packers)
  • Cedric Thornton (Philadelphia Eagles)
  • Derek Wolfe (Denver Broncos)
  • Malik Jackson (Denver Broncos)

Top 5 Draft Prospects

  • Robert Nkemdiche (Ole Miss)
  • DeForest Buckner (Oregon)
  • Adolphus Washington (Ohio State)
  • A’Shawn Robinson (Alabama)
  • Montravious Adams (Auburn)

Next: John Fox Can Get Bears To Playoffs If They Beat Detroit

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