Chicago Bears: Ideal Draft Picks for Each Position of Need

When new general manager Ryan Pace took to the podium for the first time late last week, he made it very clear he wants to build the Chicago Bears through the draft.

“The recipe to winning Super Bowls is stringing successful drafts together again and again," Pace said, per the Chicago Tribune.

Former general manager Phil Emery had a knack for going against the grain and selecting high-upside athletes instead of nabbing players who best fit the organization. Pace made it clear last Friday he will not take the same approach, saying:

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We are not just collecting athletes. We are acquiring football players that fit the Chicago Bears. There will be a major emphasis on character, toughness, instincts and intelligence. Guys, it's all about winning games and that's what I'm here to do. Every decision we make goes back to what's best for this organization. It's as simple as that.

"

With the Bears holding the No. 7 pick in this year's draft, Pace should have an opportunity to choose from a plethora of talented players who would be ideal fits in Chicago.

The Bears need help on both sides of the football, and they could look in the first round to address needs at safety, defensive end or outside linebacker.

Here are our ideal draft picks for each position of need in the first round for the Chicago Bears. 

Safety: Landon Collins

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It is no secret the Bears desperately need help at the safety position. After bypassing guys like T.J. Ward and Donte Whitner in free agency last offseason, the Bears opted to sign journeyman Ryan Mundy to a two-year, $3 million contract.

Mundy ended up leading the team in tackles last season with 103 and tied for the lead in interceptions with four. According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), he finished the regular season with a plus-1.8 overall grade, 36th best in the NFL. Known as more of a run-stopper, he played well against the pass, allowing just 34 completions on 50 pass attempts thrown in his direction. Opposing quarterbacks registered just a 75.9 quarterback rating when throwing at him. 

Despite a solid season from Mundy in 2014, the Bears still need to improve both safety positions. The team could live with Mundy at strong safety for another season, but it may be too hard to pass up on Alabama's Landon Collins.

While it is rare for a strong safety to be considered a top-10 pick, Collins is the type of player who can solidify a secondary for years to come.

He finished his three-year career at Alabama with 113 tackles, five interceptions, six pass deflections and three forced fumbles. He is extremely physical, particularly against the run, and he is one of the hardest-hitting safeties to enter the draft in years. Although he plays very physical, he has quick feet and displays great hip fluidity when changing directions. 

He is at his best when playing up in the box against the run but has the physical tools to match up against tight ends and running backs in the passing game. He still needs to improve in man coverage, but he does a good job of reading the quarterback's eyes in zone coverage. 

The Bears' biggest need in the secondary for years has been the free safety position, but Collins would help give the team an edge against the run and a playmaker at strong safety.

One AFC scout believes Collins is better than former Alabama first-round picks Mark Barron and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, per NFL.com's Albert Breer: "He's better than Barron, he's better than Ha Ha. If you look at him, he plays special teams, he plays defense, and he's all out. He's just a football player. Good range, good hands, explosive tackler, always around the ball. ... Barron was a good player, but more of a thumper. Ha Ha was more rangy. This guy is a mixture of both."

Collins won't solve all of Chicago's problems in the secondary, but he would give the team stability in the back half of the field for years to come. 

Outside Linebacker: Shaq Thompson

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Even though second-year man Jon Bostic and rookie Christian Jones showed flashes last year at weak- and strong-side linebacker, the Bears still need plenty of help at the position.

The biggest question mark at linebacker revolves around who will be playing in the middle, but Washington's Shaq Thompson may be too tough to pass up at No. 7 in late April.

Thompson split time at safety and linebacker and finished his three-year career at Washington with 139 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, five interceptions, two defensive touchdowns and two forced fumbles. In addition to his strong play on defense, Thompson also ran the football 61 times in 2014 as a running back, racking up 456 yards and two touchdowns. 

He is smooth and athletic, gets to the ball-carrier in a hurry and is unafraid to take on bigger offensive linemen. He is also a solid tackler and has improved his coverage skills over the years.

The vision he displayed as a running back proved how aware he is of his surroundings, and that vision was on display when he blitzed opposing quarterbacks. He is a patient blitzer and allows space to open up before he attacks the backfield.

The biggest knock on Thompson is his size. At 6'2" and 231 pounds, he could stand to gain some weight if teams want him to remain at linebacker. He is built more like a safety but plays with the toughness and tenacity of an outside linebacker. 

Rob Rang of CBSSports.com compares him to the Detroit Lions' DeAndre Levy, writing: "Like Levy, Thompson lacks the size and explosiveness scouts might prefer at linebacker. Fluidity and awareness in coverage at the linebacker position are more important in today's pass-heavy NFL than ever before, making Thompson a potential building block in a 4-3 alignment."

Just as Rang mentioned, in the pass-heavy NFL, outside linebackers with the ability to cover downfield are currently in high demand. Thompson has the ability to come in and be a starter from Day 1 for the Bears and would give the defense a young, athletic playmaker who can stop the run, cover running backs and tight ends in the passing game and apply pressure to the quarterback. 

Defensive End: Alvin 'Bud' Dupree

Wade Payne/Associated Press

After signing defensive ends Jared Allen, Lamarr Houston and Willie Young last offseason, the Bears were expected to be able to get consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

Unfortunately for Chicago, only one of those players had a productive season. Young notched a career-high 10 sacks, but his season was cut short due to an Achilles injury he suffered in Week 16 against the Detroit Lions. Houston struggled for much of the season and tore his ACL against the New England Patriots in October while celebrating his first sack of the season. In eight games, he only registered 11 tackles and one sack.

Signed to give the team a bona fide pass-rusher, Allen battled a bout of pneumonia early in the season and was unable to revert back to his old self. The 11-year veteran finished the season with 55 tackles, 5.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. 

Despite the lack of productivity from Houston and Allen, it is likely both will return next season due to the money they are owed in 2015. 

Even though the team has three pass-rushing defensive ends currently on the roster, the Bears have a need to get younger at the position.

Missouri's Shane Ray could be in the conversation when the Bears select, but it is possible he will already be gone when the Bears make their pick. With Ray likely off the board, Kentucky's Alvin "Bud" Dupree is the next-best fit.

Dupree was a starter between 2012-2014 for the Wildcats and posted 46 tackles, eight sacks and one interception in 2014. The best part of Dupree's game is his first step off of the line of scrimmage. He split time between defensive end and outside linebacker, but his speed, agility and athleticism were on full display when he was playing defensive end.

He has the ability to turn on the burners when needed and is terrific in pursuit of the ball-carrier. He does need to get stronger, especially at the point of attack, but his athleticism makes him an intriguing prospect.

The Bears have not made a decision on what kind of defense they will be running next season, but Dupree has the skill set to be successful in both a 4-3 and a 3-4 defense. With a trio of defensive ends already on the roster, the Bears could pick and choose when to utilize Dupree's skills in 2015 before allowing him to become an anchor on defense in the future.

Statistical information courtesy of NFL.com or Sports-Reference.com unless otherwise noted.

Matt Eurich is an NFL/Chicago Bears Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report and a member of the Pro Football Writers of America.

Follow @MattEurich