Oregon DE DeForest Buckner is a potential first round target for the Chicago Bears
The 2015 season had its fair share of ups and downs for the Chicago Bears. In their rookie campaign, general manager Ryan Pace and head coach John Fox started dismantling the roster in an attempt to build a contender. They moved standout wide receiver Brandon Marshall for next to nothing.
Pace and Fox also did not re-sign respected veterans like Charles “Peanut” Tillman and Lance Briggs. The new regime was obviously out to make a statement and change the atmosphere within the locker room. The arrow is pointing up for Pace and Fox entering the 2016 season.
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WHO WILL THE CHICAGO BEARS TAKE IN THE DRAFT?
2015 Draft Picks
- Round 1, Pick 7 – WR Kevin White (West Virginia)
- Round 2, Pick 39 – DT Eddie Goldman (Florida State)
- Round 3, Pick 71 – C Hroniss Grasu (Oregon)
- Round 4, Pick 106 – RB Jeremy Langford (Michigan St.)
- Round 5, Pick 142 – S Adrian Amos (Penn State)
- Round 6, Pick 183 – OT Tayo Fabuluje (TCU)
Ryan Pace and John Fox hit well in their first draft. Their black mark was White missing the entire season due to a stress fracture in his left shin. However, they saw excellent performances by second-round pick Goldman, fourth-round pick Langford and fifth-round pick Amos.
Goldman took over and played well as the starting nose tackle after Chicago cut Jay Ratliff after an altercation with Ryan Pace. Langford proved he could carry the load if the team cannot re-sign Matt Forte in the offseason.
Amos was a shocking development. The fifth-round selection found himself starting by Week 1 and never relinquished the spot. He is still a work in progress, but his consistency landed him as the fourth runner-up as Pro Football Focus Defensive Rookie of the Year.
2016 Draft Picks
- Round 1, No. 11 overall
- Round 2, No. 41 overall
- Round 3, No. 72 overall
- Round 4
- Round 5
- Round 6
- Round 6 (From New England in Jonathan Bostic trade)
- Round 6 (From Carolina in Jared Allen trade)
- Round 7
Only the first three rounds of the draft are set at the moment. Compensatory picks will be awarded in March. The compensatory picks will be added starting at the end of the third round.
Until the compensatory picks are assigned, the exact draft pick order will be unknown for Rounds 4-7. The Bears are unlikely to see any compensatory picks. Barring any early trades, Chicago will have nine draft picks entering the 2016 NFL Draft.
Top Draft Needs
Defensive End
It was apparent early in the season that Chicago lacked enough talent on the defensive side of the football. They have some key pieces in place, but they need more talent at the end position. Pernell McPhee led Chicago with only six sacks in 2015. If the Bears can find a talent to play the five-technique, McPhee should have more lanes to rush the passer, and they should see a drastic improvement on defense in 2016. I expect Chicago to address this position with their first-round pick.
Potential Fits:
- DeForest Buckner – Oregon – Projected First Round
- A’Shawn Robinson – Alabama – Projected First Round
- Robert Nkemdiche – Ole Miss – Projected First Round
Left Tackle
Jermon Bushrod is past his prime and continues to deal with a bad back. Charles Leno, a seventh-round draft pick in 2014, was a pleasant surprise, but they need to find a guy they can count on every play.
Depending on what happens with Alshon Jeffery’s contract situation, left tackle is the biggest need for Chicago’s offense. If they cannot address it in free agency, there are a few guys to consider in the upcoming draft.
If Ronnie Stanley falls to them at the 11th pick, it will be difficult to pass up on his talent. However, Chicago will likely look to fill this void somewhere in Rounds 4-7.
Potential Fits:
- Ronnie Stanley – Notre Dame – Projected First Round
- Shon Coleman – Auburn – Projected First or Second Round
- Willie Beavers – Western Michigan – Projected Fourth or Fifth Round
Cornerback
The Bears’ passing defense was not awful last season, but it can use a big upgrade. They need a playmaker who can create turnovers. Chicago did not score a defensive touchdown for the first time since 1997.
One reason for that was their lack of interceptions. The Bears finished with eight interceptions total, and their starting two corners only had three of those. The Bears need to find a guy who has good size and ball-hawking skills.
Potential Fits:
- Vernon Hargreaves III – Florida – Projected First Round
- William Jackson III – Houston – Projected Second Round
- Xavlen Howard – Baylor – Projected Third Round
Late-Round Flier – WR Chris Brown, Notre Dame
Brown has the measurables to play in the NFL at the WR position. He has decent size and soft hands.
Brown was overshadowed by the crowded depth chart in South Bend. He showed he can handle himself in the East-West Shrine game by separating from defenders one-on-one.
Even if Jeffery returns in 2016, Chicago could use another guy like Brown on their depth chart. By the end of the 2015 season, Jay Cutler was throwing to fourth- and fifth-string receivers most people had never heard of before. Brown has the skillset to develop into a solid wide receiver and has enough upside to take a chance on him in the later rounds.
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Rob Schwarz, Jr. is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Rob, check out his archive and follow him on Twitter @ChiSportsnut25.
