Chicago Bears Post Draft Commentary

The Bears finished the season at 8-8, but the team could have done much more than it did as a whole. Kyle Orton was the quarterback as the Bears continued to flounder at the position under Lovie Smith. The defense started to show its age towards the end of the season and overall the team showed it needed some changes. 2009 saw the Bears trade for Jay Cutler and solidify the position in a way most Bears fans could only dream about. But, with Cutler in place, it became apparent that the Bears needed to add talent around him in order to maximize his talent.

The Bears relied heavily on Devin Hester on offense last season and he had led the team in receiving yardage and was 3rd on the team behind Matt Forte and Greg Olsen for receptions. The fact a rookie running back led the team in receptions speaks volumes about the Bears receiving corp. In the draft the Bears selected 3 wide receivers; trying to increase their chances of finding help at the position. Juaquin Iglesias has the most size of any of the draftees, but Johnny Knox is an unheralded player who may surprise. The Bears will need all they can get from both players as the team needs to find a reliable pass catcher on the outside. The Bears are a run first team, but they lack the ability to stretch the field and make the defense pay for stacking the box. Cutler has the arm to get the ball down the field, and maybe now the team will have enough talent at wide receiver to make such throws a reality. If not, then the Bears will be a mediocre team as they will not be able to keep opposing defenses honest over the course of the season.

The Bears defense was in need of some help in terms of depth and talent. The team needed to add someone other Dusty Dvoraceck to pair with Tommie Harris, who himself has missed time due to injuries. The defensive line is in need of someone to bring along at defensive end as the team has seen diminishing results from Mark Anderson over the last two years; collecting 6 sacks, and only 1 last year. Both Alex Brown and Adewale Ogunleye will be over 30 this year and Ogunleye is definitely on the downside of his career. The Bears do not have anyone waiting in the wings to replace either player and will have to rely on Henry Melton to provide some spark. If he can, the defensive line could prove to be more of a factor, the way it used to when the Bears were at their best. If Melton does not provide much this year, the Bears may be able to make due if there are no injuries to the starters. However, if there are injuries, the team could struggle to generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

The Bears could very easily challenge for the NFC North crown, or simply fall into being a .500 ball club. There is enough talent on the roster to make a run into the playoffs, but they will need the offensive line to hold up; providing pass protection and running lanes for Matt Forte. If the Bears’ new draft choices at wide receiver pan out, then the offense could very easily prove to be the best of the NFC North. If not, then the Bears could very easily become nothing more than the next in a long line of underachieving clubs.

Pre Draft Needs: WR, DL, S, CB