April 21, 2008...6:28 pm
Chicago Bears Draft 2008
Read more about the upcoming Draft at NFLdraftbible.com
Bears 2007 season record: 7-9
Team Needs for the 2008 Draft:
1. Offensive Lineman: Chicago is making a youth movement with the big eaters up front. Older veterans such as 35-year-olds Fred Miller and Ruben Brown were released this off-season. John Tait’s value is in his versatility to play either the left or right tackle positions and Olin Kreutz is a staple at center having only missed one game in the last seven seasons. Still, 2007 back-ups, Terrence Metcalf at guard and tackle John St. Claire, are not the answers to a line that allowed 43 sacks in 2007.
2. Running Back: Cedric Benson never seemed comfortable running the football in 2007. The former Texas Longhorn managed 678 yards in 11 games (3.4 avg) before shattering his left ankle Nov. 25 against Denver. Obviously, the Bears are interested in drafting Arkansas running back Darren McFadden. With a smoking 40 time (4.27 combine), McFadden (6’1, 211 lbs) appears to be a can’t miss pick. However, it’s unlikely he’ll still be available for the Bears 14th overall selection. On the other hand, McFaddens’s college teammate, Felix Jones, is on Chicago’s radar. Jones is smaller (5′11, 207lbs) than McFadden but, he’s nearly as fast in the 40-time (4.4).
3. Tight End: After six seasons in Chicago free-agent John Gilmore signed a three-year deal with Tampa Bay in the off-season. Now, the Bears are looking for a solid blocking tight end to work alongside the more receiving oriented duo of Desmond Clark and Greg Olsen. Specifically, the Bears need someone for short yardage situations and for the occasional double tight end set it uses.
4. Safety: Consider Adam Archuleta a bust in Chicago. That leaves the competition open between first-year safety Leonard Peters and a 2008 draft pick. Peters is known as a hard hitter with an intense game attitude from his days at the University of Hawaii. However, Peters has struggled to master the techniques of the safety position at the NFL level.
5. Quarterback: If a team ever needed to draft a QB it’s the Bears. Just consider that since Brett Favre began his streak of 253 consecutive starts in 1992 the Bears have toyed with 21 different starting QBs, the most in the league. Even though Favre has retired, it seems the Bears’ QB carousel will continue with Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton competing for the starting position in 2008. Baring a major improvement in production, it’s possible both Grossman and Orton could be gone after the 2009 season.
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