Brown, Tait Leaving Chicago?

Rumors swirling around Halas Hall might cause the Chicago Bears to have some more questions to answer before the draft.

On Friday, various Chicago media outlets reported that offensive tackle John Tait is considering retirement with one year left on his contract.

Other reports then circulated that captain Mike Brown, the oft-injured safety who has been the Bears' Kerry Wood of the past four seasons, will not be invited back to the team.

The loss of Tait opens the door for 2008 first round draft pick Chris Williams to have a tackle position to play. The only question is which one?

Last year, Tait moved to right tackle and John St. Clair played on the left side. St. Clair is a free agent, and would have a significantly stronger bargaining position with the Bears if Tait does walk away.

This spring's NFL Draft is as deep as any in recent years at the tackle position, which may lead the Bears to take another lineman with the 18th pick. The Bears do have a load of needs to address this spring, but the list of potentially available players via trade and free agency could help the Bears to fill a need at another position, like wide receiver, before the draft.

Two young bookend offensive lineman to grow with running back Matt Forte could give Bears fans something special to look forward to over the next decade.

In Brown, the Bears would be ending a relationship with the unquestioned leader in the locker room. He was the emotional rock on the Bears defense, even when he wasn't on the field on Sunday. While the Bears do have young talent in their secondary, the leadership of Brown won't be easily replaced.

While there isn't a clear-cut top safety in the draft that would be appropriate at the 18th pick, Bears' GM Jerry Angelo has a history of trading down and might like William Moore from Missouri later in the first or in the second round.