This article is part of our NFL Draft Team Needs series.
Team draft picks
Round 1 (20)
Round 2 (50)
Round 4 (117)
Round 5 (153)
Round 6 (188)
1. Offensive line
It seemed as if the Bears had made it an organizational mission to neglect the offensive line over the years, and their failure to take the next step as a team reflected that fact. With Jay Cutler constantly under fire from opposing pass rushes, the traditionally strong defenses in Chicago only took the team so far. It looks like the organization is taking the issue more seriously now – they signed former Saints left tackle Jermon Bushrod in free agency – but there's still work to be done at almost every position on the line.
Potential targets:
First round
-D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama
-Jonathan Cooper, C/G, North Carolina
-Menelik Watson, OT, Florida State
-Chance Warmack, G, Alabama
Second round
-Kyle Long, G/OT, Oregon
-Larry Warford, G, Kentucky
-Barrett Jones, C/G, Alabama
Fourth round
-David Quessenberry, OT, San Jose State
-Jordan Mills, OT, Louisiana Tech
-Travis Frederick, C/G, Wisconsin
-Brian Winters, G/OT, Kent State
Fifth round
-Xavier Nixon, OT, Florida
-Ricky Wagner, OT/G, Wisconsin
-Luke Marquardt, OT, Azusa Pacific
Sixth round
-Oday Aboushi, OT/G, Virginia
2. Linebacker
Lance Briggs will be 33 in November, Nick Roach left for Oakland and Brian Urlacher is gone, too. Briggs is best on the outside, so middle linebacker in particular is a need for
Team draft picks
Round 1 (20)
Round 2 (50)
Round 4 (117)
Round 5 (153)
Round 6 (188)
1. Offensive line
It seemed as if the Bears had made it an organizational mission to neglect the offensive line over the years, and their failure to take the next step as a team reflected that fact. With Jay Cutler constantly under fire from opposing pass rushes, the traditionally strong defenses in Chicago only took the team so far. It looks like the organization is taking the issue more seriously now – they signed former Saints left tackle Jermon Bushrod in free agency – but there's still work to be done at almost every position on the line.
Potential targets:
First round
-D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama
-Jonathan Cooper, C/G, North Carolina
-Menelik Watson, OT, Florida State
-Chance Warmack, G, Alabama
Second round
-Kyle Long, G/OT, Oregon
-Larry Warford, G, Kentucky
-Barrett Jones, C/G, Alabama
Fourth round
-David Quessenberry, OT, San Jose State
-Jordan Mills, OT, Louisiana Tech
-Travis Frederick, C/G, Wisconsin
-Brian Winters, G/OT, Kent State
Fifth round
-Xavier Nixon, OT, Florida
-Ricky Wagner, OT/G, Wisconsin
-Luke Marquardt, OT, Azusa Pacific
Sixth round
-Oday Aboushi, OT/G, Virginia
2. Linebacker
Lance Briggs will be 33 in November, Nick Roach left for Oakland and Brian Urlacher is gone, too. Briggs is best on the outside, so middle linebacker in particular is a need for the Bears.
Potential targets:
First round
-Arthur Brown, MLB/OLB, Kansas State
Second round
-Sio Moore, MLB/OLB, Connecticut
-DeVonte Holloman, OLB, South Carolina
-Kevin Minter, MLB, LSU
-Kiko Alonso, MLB/OLB, Oregon
-Alec Ogletree, OLB, Georgia
-Manti Te'o, MLB, Notre Dame
Fourth round
-Gerald Hodges, MLB/OLB, Penn State
-Sean Porter, MLB/OLB, Texas A&M
-Zaviar Gooden, OLB, Missouri
-Kevin Reddick, MLB, North Carolina
-Khaseem Greene, OLB, Rutgers
-Keith Pough, OLB, Howard
Fifth round
-Jon Bostic, MLB/OLB, Florida
-Jelani Jenkins, OLB, Florida
-Steve Beauharnais, OLB, Rutgers
-Chase Thomas, MLB/OLB, Stanford
Sixth round
-Etienne Sabino, OLB, Ohio State
-Brandon Magee, OLB, Arizona State
3. Cornerback
Charles Tillman is 32 years old and Tim Jennings is in the final year of his contract. Behind those two is Kelvin Hayden, who probably isn't starting material. Adding a corner in this draft would be a depth pick for 2013, but that player might need to start in 2014.
Potential targets:
Second round
-Robert Alford, CB, Southeastern Louisiana
-Jordan Poyer, CB, Oregon State
-Blidi Wreh-Wilson, CB, Connecticut
-Jamar Taylor, CB, Boise State
-B.W. Webb, CB, William & Mary
-Johnthan Banks, CB/FS, Mississippi State
-Darius Slay, CB, Mississippi State
-David Amerson, CB, North Carolina State
Fourth round
-Dwayne Gratz, CB, Connecticut
-Tharold Simon, CB, LSU
-Tyrann Mathieu, CB, LSU
-Will Davis, CB, Utah State
Fifth round
-Adrian Bushell, CB, Louisville
-Sanders Commings, CB, Georgia
-Khalid Wooten, CB, Nevada
-Johnny Adams, CB, Michigan State
Sixth round
-Greg Reid, CB, Florida State
-Nickell Robey, CB, USC
Other needs: Defensive tackle depth, backup quarterback
