Though he has the NFL’s worst offense, Bears general manager Jerry Angelo at least is armed with a high draft pick in Saturday’s draft.
The Bears have the fourth selection, and it will be a surprise if Angelo doesn’t go for one of the team’s two biggest needs–wide receiver or running back.
If he has a choice, which way will he go?
“I’ll let the player decide,” Angelo says.
San Francisco has Michigan wide receiver Braylon Edwards under consideration for its No. 1 overall pick, but the Bears might prefer USC’s Mike Williams anyway.
Auburn’s Ronnie Brown has emerged as the top running back prospect, but he could go to Miami or Cleveland, who pick second and third, respectively. The next best running backs are believed to be Texas’ Cedric Benson and Brown’s college teammate, Carnell “Cadillac” Williams.
This will be Angelo’s fourth Bears draft, and the team is coming off its third straight losing season. Angelo has made four first-round picks for the Bears, but only last year’s, defensive tackle Tommie Harris, is an established starter.
Offensive tackle Marc Colombo, No. 1 in 2002, has had two knee operations and goes to training camp as a backup. Defensive end Michael Haynes, the first pick in 2003, is a backup behind Alex Brown and Adewale Ogunleye. Quarterback Rex Grossman, the second No. 1 in 2003, has been limited to six starts in two seasons and is coming off knee surgery. He heads into camp No. 1 on the depth chart.
Here’s how the roster shapes up.
QUARTERBACK
2 FOOTBALLS
The Bears have one of the least-experienced groups of quarterbacks in the NFL. They are counting on the unproven Grossman. They see Chad Hutchinson as a promising No. 2. They passed on the big-name veteran backups but may draft another developmental project to go with Craig Krenzel. Former Illinois star Kurt Kittner and Ryan Dinwiddie, who was in the Bears’ camp last year, are playing in NFL Europe, hoping for a training camp spot. A postdraft free-agent signing remains a possibility.
RUNNING BACK
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Thomas Jones was signed to fit last year’s offense. They could live with him this season, but they need a dynamic back who can get yards between the tackles and get the tough yards near the goal line–in other words, a better Anthony Thomas, whom they allowed to leave as a free agent. That would leave Jones as one of the NFL’s top change-of-pace backs. Adrian Peterson could be challenged for the No. 3 spot, but he was their leading special-teams tackler last season. Fullback Bryan Johnson is solid.
WIDE RECEIVER/TIGHT END
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The signing of free agent Muhsin Muhammad gives them one starter. A second is needed, and spending the fourth pick of the draft on Williams or Edwards would be logical. Bobby Wade is a solid No. 3 receiver who can pick up first downs, and he could be pushed by free agent Eddie Berlin, formerly with Tennessee.
The Bears have to find out what they have with their young receivers. Bernard Berrian, last year’s third-round pick, led their receivers with two touchdown receptions. Justin Gage, underused heading into this third season, remains a mystery.
Tight ends Desmond Clark and Dustin Lyman have not come up with big pass plays consistently, so a draft choice figures to join the mix.
OFFENSIVE LINE
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Having invested in long-term contracts for tackles Fred Miller and John Tait, center Olin Kreutz and guard Ruben Brown the last few years, the Bears’ goal is to make this work. Tait has moved to left tackle and Miller, signed after Tennessee released him in March, is the right tackle. Terrence Metcalf, free-agent Roberto Garza and veteran Steve Edwards figure to battle for one guard spot. Qasim Mitchell, last year’s starter at left tackle, figures to provide depth. Can oft-injured guard Rex Tucker make a comeback, this time from a dislocated elbow?
The Bears need to develop young players and one to watch is Rob Droege, a rookie free agent who spent last season on injured reserve. Another reason to skip the offensive line: Next year’s draft is loaded with blockers.
DEFENSIVE LINE
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The Bears spent last year rebuilding this unit, drafting tackles Harris and Tank Johnson, trading for Ogunleye, and re-signing Brown. And then Ian Scott beat out Johnson for a starting job. It’s up to the current group to improve. It may even have enough depth. Darrell Campbell, who spent last year rehabbing a knee injury, will compete for a backup tackle job with veteran Alfonso Boone. Israel Idonije and Alain Kashama still could develop as ends.
LINEBACKER
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Brian Urlacher showed last season that, when healthy, he remains one of the game’s top inside linebackers. He had 5 1/2 sacks in only seven games. Lance Briggs is solid on the weak side. The Bears would love to find someone like Briggs, a third-round pick in 2003, to take over the strong side. Hunter Hillenmeyer, Joe Odom and Marcus Reese took turns last season without becoming the long-term answer. There’s still a chance for a free-agent signing, depending on what happens in the draft.
CORNERBACK
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This is one of the trickiest areas for the Bears’ future. At the moment, they look solid with Charles Tillman and Jerry Azumah, backed up by R.W. McQuarters and second-year man Nathan Vasher, who led the Bears with five interceptions. But Azumah is going into the last year of his contract. If he has a good year, he could be tough to re-sign because of the demand for cornerbacks. McQuarters is an expensive backup/kickoff returner at $3 million. So there’s always room for a cornerback.
SAFETY
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Mike Brown returns from Achilles’ surgery at free safety, and the Bears expect him to resume his position as a locker-room leader and a playmaker. Coach Lovie Smith says Mike Green may be challenged at strong safety. Bobby Gray, heading into this third season, has been unable to unseat Green the last two years. Todd Johnson, a fourth-round pick in 2003, has a chance.
SPECIAL TEAMS
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The Bears re-signed punter Brad Maynard and long snapper Patrick Mannelly, but kicker Paul Edinger is on the bubble. He converted only 15 of 24 field-goal attempts, a .625 percentage that was next-to-last among regular kickers. He also had zero touchbacks, a weakness coverage teams can’t mask forever. They have signed Notre Dame product Nick Setta to challenge Edinger. Drafting a kicker on the second day is a possibility.
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Legend
4 FOOTBALLS: When can you start?
3 FOOTBALLS: Starting job available for right applicant
2 FOOTBALLS: Opening with advancement possibilities
1 FOOTBALL: Bargain shopping only
