Chicago Bears' Initial 2015 Round-by-Round Draft Big Board

The Chicago Bears have six selections in the 2015 NFL draft. With holes at a number of positions, new general manager Ryan Pace will have very little wiggle room when it comes to finding players who can contribute right away.

Listed in no particular order, here are the positions that will require the most help: defensive end, cornerback, linebacker, safety, quarterback and offensive tackle.

Constructing a “big board” is a good way of organizing who the best possible fits are at each position. Here’s our initial round-by-round 2015 NFL draft big board.

First Round, Seventh Overall

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Chicago’s defense was one of the worst in the league in 2014, at one point allowing 100-plus points over a two-game stretch. That’s why defense needs to be the Bears’ top priority here in the first round.

1. Shane Ray, DE/OLB, Missouri

With defensive ends Willie Young and Lamarr Houston both recovering from serious injuries, the Bears will need pass-rushing help. Ray fills that void.

He is one of the more versatile players in the 2015 draft class and can play defensive end or outside linebacker depending on which defensive scheme the Bears settle on.

Ray sacked the quarterback 14.5 times and recorded 22.5 tackles for loss in 2014; both figures were tops in the SEC. He possesses one of the quickest first steps among defensive linemen in the draft.

The Bears badly need to get younger on defense. There’s no better time to start than now.

2. Randy Gregory, DE, Nebraska

Gregory is one of the more explosive defensive end prospects on the board. The Nebraska product stands at 6’5”, 242 pounds and features great hands and quick and coordinated feet.

Rushing the edge opposite Jared Allen, on paper, looks like a winning proposition for this Bears team.

3. Alvin “Bud” Dupree, DE/OLB, Kentucky

Dupree would be a great selection here for the Bears. He’s a long, athletic lineman who had very little trouble rushing the passer during his career at Kentucky. The kid who goes by “Bud” finished 2014 with 7.5 sacks and 74 total tackles.

Dupree, on tape, looks like a great fit here for the Bears. He features a few different moves off the line of scrimmage, which makes it difficult for offensive linemen to get comfortable in their stance.

Possibly the best part of Dupree’s game is his ability to play all four downs. He can defend the run, rush the passer or drop back into coverage when needed. Those attributes are what the Bears had hoped to see from Shea McClellin.

4. Landon Collins, SS, Alabama

Collins looks to have the ability to play either safety position in the NFL. He’s hands down the best safety on the board.

The Crimson Tide product is one of the best run-stoppers on the board. His ball skills have improved from year to year, and his ability to lay someone out over the middle is fearsome for opposing wide receivers and tight ends.

Last season, the Bears passed in the first round on another Alabama safety, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. If none of the three aforementioned linemen are available when No. 7 rolls around, the Bears should not pass on Collins.

5. Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State

While this might not be the most popular selection, the Bears will need a new starting quarterback if general manager Ryan Pace decides to get rid of Jay Cutler.

Winston is the most NFL-ready quarterback in this year's draft class. He can call plays at the line of scrimmage, take snaps under center or out of the shotgun and he has above-average arm strength.

Second Round, 39th Overall

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The Bears likely will be starting two new linebackers when the 2015 season rolls around. With Lance Briggs all but gone from Chicago and linebacker Shea McClellin likely to be cut, finding the best available linebacker in the second round is a good possibility.

1. Shaq Thompson, LB, Washington

For a team that needs versatile players, Thompson would be a very solid choice. Winner of the 2014 Paul Hornung Award for the player who demonstrates the most versatility in the nation, Thompson would give the Bears the ability to play a hybrid defensive scheme.

Thompson recorded four defensive touchdowns last season, the most in the nation. NFL coaches will love his nose for the football.

2. Benardrick McKinney, ILB, Mississippi State

McKinney looks to possess the required skills to be a successful linebacker in the NFL. He is a strong run defender who is better than most when in coverage.

He led the Bulldogs with 61 tackles in 12 starts in the regular season. He finished 2014 with three sacks and eight tackles for loss.

Like Shane Ray, McKinney has the versatility to play multiple positions at the NFL level. During the 2014 season, the Bulldogs used McKinney in the middle and rushed him off the edge. His speed and body control allow him to move forward (to rush) or backward (in coverage) with ease, depending on what’s being expected of him on any given play.

3. Arik Armstead, DE, Oregon

Armstead is one of the more raw talents in this year's draft class. The defensive end led the Ducks with nine tackles in Monday's championship game loss to Ohio State.

He's a powerful rusher who's light on his feet. He possesses first-round talent, but he still has a ways to go before getting there. If Armstead shows well in the months leading up to the draft, he'll likely rise into the first round.

4. Brett Hundley, QB, UCLA

Hundley is one of the top quarterbacks in this draft class, but he still has some developing to do. The UCLA quarterback has a strong arm and is quick on his feet. Few quarterbacks in this class possess Hundley's ability to tuck the ball and run.

If Hundley can get better at reading defenses and working through his progressions, he'll be a starting quarterback in the NFL sooner than later.

Third Round, 71st Overall

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1. Cameron Erving, C, Florida State

The Bears need a long-term center with youth. Erving is a converted defensive tackle who has the versatility to play multiple positions on the line. He's shown to be better in pass protection than in run schemes, but good coaching can even that up.

2. Cody Prewitt, FS, Ole Miss

Chris Conte is all but out the door in Chicago, and the Bears will need a new starting free safety when training camp begins. Prewitt can step in immediately and be the best safety on the roster.

Prewitt is a very smart football player who doesn’t get fooled very often. Standing at 6’2”, 217 pounds, Prewitt has the size and strength to cover the NFL’s taller receivers and more physical tight ends.

3. Garrett Grayson, QB, Colorado State

Grayson has all the tools to be an NFL quarterback. He's flown under the radar thus far, but a strong spring and NFL combine will change that very quickly.

Accuracy could be an issue moving forward for Grayson, but some of that might be due to the way he delivers the ball.

4. Nelson Agholor, WR, USC

Agholor had a strong season for the Trojans, catching 104 passes for 1,313 yards and 12 touchdowns.

He's quick but not necessarily fast. He's a strong route-runner with quick burst after making the catch. The main thing Agholor needs to improve upon is not dropping the football when it's thrown his way. 

5. Alex Carter, CB, Stanford

With Charles “Peanut” Tillman done in Chicago, the Bears will have a new starting cornerback in 2015. Can Carter be that guy? Maybe.

Carter stands at 6'0", 202 pounds and was one of the Pac-12’s best cornerbacks during the 2014 season. He comes from NFL bloodlines and possesses excellent instincts in the secondary.

The Bears need a corner who can hang with big-play receivers like Jordy Nelson and Calvin Johnson, both of whom the Bears play twice a season, and Carter appears to have the cover skills to get the job done.

Fourth Round, 103rd Overall

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1. Karl Joseph, FS, West Virginia

Joseph isn’t the best in coverage, but his speed and tackling ability make up for it. He has the ability to be a great run defender at the back end of the defense.

Joseph is one of the more versatile safeties in the draft in the sense that he can be lined up in multiple places on the field (over the top, at the line, against the run, rushing the passer).

2. Bryce Petty, QB, Baylor

Petty put up some pretty big numbers last season at Baylor, throwing for 3,855 yards with 29 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He's a dual-threat quarterback with a big arm.  

Petty must improve his accuracy and his ability to throw from the pocket before he can be considered anything more than a work in progress. 

3. Jalen Collins, CB, LSU

Collins had nine pass breakups, 38 tackles, three tackles for loss and one interception in 10 games for LSU in 2014.

He has great size at 6'2", 200 pounds, and he plays with enough of a physical presence to run with the NFC North's best pass-catchers.

4. Gerod Holliman, FS, Louisville

Holliman won the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's top defensive back. His 14 interceptions in 13 games are the most of anyone in college football and four more than second place on the list.

He's a very athletic safety who clearly has a knack for finding the football. The main thing Holliman needs to work on moving forward is his tackling ability.

Sixth Round, 167th Overall

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1. Austin Shepherd, OT, Alabama

There wasn't much of a drop-off when Shepherd took over at right tackle for 2013 first-round pick D.J. Fluker. Shepherd stands at 6'5", 320 pounds and moves better than most at his size. He's much better in pass protection than run blocking. The Bears need to do a better job of protecting the quarterback, and Shepherd comes from one of the most NFL-ready programs in the nation.

2. Cardale Jones, QB, Ohio State

Jones hasn't declared for the draft, and there's a chance he won't. But that shouldn't stop NFL teams from doing their due diligence. In only a three-game sample size during the regular season, Jones showed great arm strength and footwork and a keen ability to run with the ball when asked to.

The biggest question right now about Jones' game is whether he can call plays at the line of scrimmage and read defenses that are much more complex than what he's seen in college. If he declares, why not take a flier on a kid who rose from being a third-string quarterback to a national champion all over the course of a few weeks.

3. Chaz Green, OT, Florida

Injuries on the offensive line this season forced the Bears to shuffle guys around the line, sometimes putting guys in positions they weren’t accustomed to playing.

Green played both the right and left tackle positions during the 2014 season. If the Bears are looking for someone with versatility who comes from an NFL-like program, Green could be the one.

Green appears to have a great understanding of gap control and how to space himself against a defender.

Seventh Round, 199th Overall

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1. Tyler Lockett, WR, Kansas State

Lockett caught 106 passes for 1,515 yards and 11 touchdowns during the 2014 season. His 5'11", 175-pound speedy frame makes him a great candidate to play the slot. 

He also returned kicks and punts for the Wildcats, averaging over 20 yards a return in both categories. Having depth on special teams is never a bad thing. 

2. Byron Jones, CB, UConn

Jones is a dependable corner who has a knack for finding the ball. He finished his career at UConn with 223 tackles, eight interceptions and one interception return for a touchdown. 

His 2014 season was cut short due to a shoulder injury that required surgery. The Bears might be able to get some valuable depth here if Jones is healthy and available. 

3. Josh Shaw, CB, USC

If Shaw didn't get himself into trouble with the law before the 2014 season began, he likely would be much higher on the draft board.

Shaw is strong in coverage and was one of the Trojans' best tacklers in the secondary. In the NFL, the 6'1", 200-pound cornerback might be better suited to play safety.

All draft position information is from Pro Sport Transactions. College football statistics obtained from CollegePressBox.com (login required).