Early Look at the NFL Draft

[doug shank's crossover]

From the Bear's perspective...

Jerry Angelo has been somewhat cryptic when discussing the team's needs. He's downplaying the possibility of the Bears drafting a QB with their first round pick. He's also indicated that he's not high on any of the DE prospects. So, as most GMs do, he's either bluffing...or he's eying OT and OLB prospects. My money is on a WR. There may be as many as 4 taken in the first round alone.

[Da Coach]

The Bears have the 18th pick, and they have a lot of needs.
I don't think they will tip their hands. We won't know who they'll draft until it's their pick.

Here are some NFL Draft sites of interest-

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2009

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft

http://www.footballsfuture.com/

Top prospects-

http://www.footballsfuture.com/2009/prospects/

Top players by position-

http://www.nfldraftsite.com/Top150-09.htm

Mock drafts-

http://newnfldraft.com/

This one shows the Bears drafting possibly the top wide receiver Jeremy Macklin from Missouri. He is also an extraordinary kick returner, ala Hester-

http://www.mynfldraft.com/NFL-Mock-Draft

http://www.nfldraftsite.com/

http://www.draftcountdown.com/sub/Mock-Draft-A.php

http://www.nfldraftdog.com/Mock_Drafts/2009_nfl_mock_draft.htm

http://www.footballsfuture.com/2009/nflmockdraft.html

[doug shank's crossover]

Ya, they have needs on both sides of the ball...word has it that Larry English from NIU is someone they've interviewed several times. He's kind of a hybrid DE/OLB...they didn't like how Nick Roach responded to his opportunity last year when he replaced Hillenmeyer...English can rush the edge or drop back in coverage...otherwise, Percy Harvin is someone to watch (the WR from Fla.)

[doug shank's crossover]

DC...I agree with your thought that the O-line is top priority. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like Jerry Angelo and Lovie agree with us. They have Chris Williams and John St. Clair penciled in at OLT and ORT (assuming they sign St Clair to a contract). They've also signed a relatively unknown tackle to a rather lucritive 4 year contract to compete at the position (and OG). So, the likelihood of Angelo going back to back OTs in the first round is minimal IMO.

As for the comment on Harvin being "the same guy" as Devin Hester...what's wrong with having two speed guys on the same team? Harvin is over 200lbs plays the X, Y and Z wide receiving positions. He's not just a return/slot guy. Plus, it's painfully obvious what Jerry/Lovie's opinions of slow, inexperienced WRs is...(see Mike Haas, Brandon Rideau and Earn Bennett). The Bears WR corp is full of slow guys who can't separate from cover corners..Britt and Nicks are glaciers.