Forget New York! Let’s all hop on a plane and do this NFL draft thing in Vegas, where it belongs! After all, most teams’ picks are going to come up craps anyway. Heyo! But seriously, folks, just two seasons from a Super Bowl run and the Bears have more glaring holes than a Michael Bay movie. The Bears have four picks in the first three rounds and the player pool is riddled with potential busts, so that’s juuuuussssst perfect. Basically the Bears need a quarterback, running back, wide receiver and offensive tackle, so here are some ways they can have it all — and here’s how they could blow it!
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NFL DRAFT
Saturday-Sunday in New York
2 p.m. Saturday, Rounds 1-2
9 a.m. Sunday, Rounds 3-7
TV: ESPN, NFL Network
BEARS PICKS
ROUND: PICK (OVERALL)
1: 14 (14)
2: 13 (44)
3: 7 (70) (From 49ers)
3: 27 (90) (From Chargers)
4: 11 (110)
5: 7 (142) (From Panthers)
6: 9 (175)
7: 15 (222)
7: 36 (243) (Compensatory selection)
7: 40 (247) (Compensatory selection)
7: 41 (248) (Compensatory selection)
[ source: nfl.com ]JACKPOT!
You could also plug in Pittsburgh’s Jeff Otah, but Williams looks like a better fit at left tackle. While every draft watcher has been salivating over Joe Flacco, Henne has slipped under the radar. I like four-year college QBs with a school record 87 touchdown passes, but maybe that’s just me. Johnson has blazing speed (4.27 40) without being undersized (5-11, 195), though there are questions about his ability to adapt to the pro grame. Nelson has decent speed (4.54), good hands and is a producer–122 catches for 1,606 yards and 11 TDs in 2007.
BUST!
Your speed and athleticism would go through the roof! Your record however would go through the floor! Despite his recent hype, Jones is too much of a straight-line speedster who doesn’t have enough experience. Jackson could be the quickest wideout in the draft, but he’s slight of build, and the Bears already have someone like that in Devin Hester. And Woodson–don’t even get me started! With his mechanics, he’s a project QB and that’s the last thing the Bears need.
ANOTHER WINNER!
RD. 1 RB RASHARD MENDENHALL, ILLINOIS RD. 2 QB JOE FLACCO, DELAWARE RD. 3 OT SAM BAKER, USC RD. 3 WR JEROME SIMPSON, COASTAL CAROLINA
This could come back to bite me, folks, but I’m sticking to my guns. Mendenhall seems more of a slasher–better suited to Denver’s cutback style of offense–but he certainly appears to have more talent (and strength) than Cedric Benson. You can’t have even a decent Bears offense without a solid running back (you’d think so give our TREMENDOUS history of great quarterbacks. Flacco would be perfect, but the Ravens would have to take leave of their senses to take a pass on him. Baker’s stock has taken a tumble lately, so he could be a steal. Simpson really impressed scouts on pro day.
ANOTHER LOSER!
RD. 1 QB BRIAN BROHM, LOUISVILLE RD. 2 WR MALCOLM KELLY, OKLAHOMA RD. 3 RB RAY RICE, RUTGERS RD. 3 OT ANTHONY COLLINS, KANSAS
I’m convinced Brohm (most passing yards in Big East history) is being undersold by the same scouts who were in love with him in the college preseason. But the fundamentally-sound (if not particularly tall, durable or mobile) passer is not worth the risk here where the Bears can get better value. Malcolm Kelly is big but about as R. Kelly. I was sold on Rice before but realized he’s undersized and doesn’t have breakaway speed–not a good combination. Collins had a poor workout and possibly poor work ethic.
