How Chicago Bears Can Make the Most of Each 2015 Draft Pick
Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Pace made it clear in his introductory press conference the key to building a winning organization starts with the NFL draft.
"The recipe to winning Super Bowls is stringing successful drafts together again and again," he said, via the Chicago Tribune. "We are not just collecting athletes. We are acquiring football players that fit the Chicago Bears."
The team has six picks in this year's draft, including the seventh overall selection, meaning Pace is going to need to get the most out of each of his picks, particularly on the defensive side of the football.
After Chicago hired the defensive-minded John Fox as head coach late last week, the organization wasted little time bringing in former San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio to run the defense.
"#Bears have hired Vic Fangio as their new defensive coordinator. Fangio has spent 28 years as an NFL coach, 15 as a DC.
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) January 20, 2015"
Fangio is rooted in a 3-4 defense that shows multiple looks, which means the organization is going to need to draft some pieces who can fit into that type of defense moving forward.
On Wednesday night, the team announced the hiring of Adam Gase as offensive coordinator:
"#Bears have reached an agreement with Adam Gase to become their new offensive coordinator.
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) January 22, 2015"
Even though there are more needs on the defensive side of the football, Gase will likely push for some help in the draft on the offensive side.
Here is how the Chicago Bears can get the most out of each pick in the 2015 draft.
First Round: 7th Overall
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Now that Fangio has officially taken over Chicago's defense, it appears likely the team will make the jump to a 3-4 defense in 2015.
Unfortunately for the Bears, that means the team is going to need a major overhaul defensively because they do not have many guys who will fit in that system. Defensive linemen Lamarr Houston and Jeremiah Ratliff both have experience playing in a 3-4, but the team's biggest concern will be finding a pass-rusher.
Luckily for the Bears, Fox has a history of finding top-level pass-rushers when he takes over a team. When he took over the Carolina Panthers in 2002, he used the second overall pick to select defensive end Julius Peppers, and when he took over the Denver Broncos in 2011, he selected Von Miller with his first pick.
Finding a pass-rusher should not be too hard for the Bears in the first round when they select seventh overall.
Nebraska's Randy Gregory, Missouri's Shane Ray and Kentucky's Alvin Dupree could all be available when it is Chicago's turn to make its first pick in late April.
Gregory appears to be the most highly regarded pass-rusher in this year's draft and could be a steal if he drops to No. 7.
According to CBSSports.com's Dane Brugler and Rob Rang, Gregory compares favorably to San Francisco's Aldon Smith.
"Like the 49ers' star edge-rusher, Gregory possesses the combination of length and explosiveness to terrorize quarterbacks," they wrote. "Each starred as a 4-3 defensive end in college and could star in this capacity in the NFL but possesses the agility, speed and awareness to get home out of the two-point stance."
If Gregory is unavailable, Ray and Dupree both have the potential to be game-changers.
Ray is athletic and has terrific flexibility, but he relies too much on his speed at times and needs to develop more counter moves. Dupree is also athletic, but he utilizes his length and long arms better than Ray does. He also relies too much on pure speed and will need to develop a better set of pass-rush moves at the next level.
Gregory is the obvious choice if he is available, but both Ray and Dupree have the ability to step in on Day 1 and make an impact, should the Bears make the jump to a 3-4 defense in 2015.
Second Round: 39th Overall
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If the Bears select a pass-rusher with their first pick, the second round could offer up endless possibilities.
Should they decide to stick to the defensive side of the football, linebacker Paul Dawson and defensive tackle Jordan Phillips could both be available when they select 39th overall.
Projected more as an outside linebacker in a 4-3 defense, Dawson is quick and terrific in pursuit and showed flashes in coverage. Even though he projects on the outside in a 4-3, he could make the move inside in a 3-4. He is a solid tackler who is not afraid to step up against the run.
Omar Kelly of the Sun-Sentinel raved about Dawson's play and cannot believe Dawson is projected as a second-rounder:
"Paul Dawson triggers fast, doesn't have false steps, covers with range, can fill his gap, and makes impact plays. Sign me up.
— Omar Kelly (@OmarKelly) January 20, 2015"
"Holy crap....I probably like Paul Dawson more than I like C.J. Mosley. No clue why he's projected as a 2nd rd talent. BEAST!
— Omar Kelly (@OmarKelly) January 20, 2015"
There is no guarantee Dawson can make the jump from the outside to inside, but he has the skill set to transition to the position if the Bears think he is a fit.
Phillips, on the other hand, does not have any question marks about whether he fits in a 3-4.
He started all 13 games for Oklahoma this past season and registered two sacks. He could go in the first round because of his upside, and Bleacher Report's Matt Miller thinks Phillips could play any spot on a 3-4 defensive line: "At 6'6" and 334 pounds, Phillips can play any spot on a 3-4 defensive line. But unlike many big men, he's able to compete with a low enough pad height to man the nose tackle spot very well. And he's like a dancing elephant with nimble, light feet and unreal agility."
If the Bears wanted to look to the other side of the football, they could address either the offensive line or even quarterback in the second round.
While offensive tackles Cedric Ogbuehi and Jake Fisher could help solve Chicago's issue at right tackle, it may be too difficult to pass up on a quarterback like UCLA's Brett Hundley. He had a chance to be a first- or second-round pick in last year's draft, but he decided to return to the Bruins for his junior season.
He threw for 3,155 yards with 22 touchdowns and five interceptions last season, but he is viewed as more of a developmental project in the NFL.
Jay Cutler's future in Chicago has not been determined yet, but regardless of whether he returns next season, the team needs to look to the future at quarterback.
Hundley is not the type of quarterback who should start right away, as he needs to improve his pocket presence and skills under center, but he has an accurate arm and solid release. He also has the ability to get outside and pick up yards with his legs but has struggled with reading defenses in the past.
It is unlikely he would see any playing time his rookie season, but he could sit and develop behind Cutler for at least a season before getting an opportunity to compete for the starting job in 2016.
Third Round: 71st Overall
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While the first two players the Bears select in the 2015 draft should be starters right out of the gate, they could possibly find another starter in the third round.
The team has a glaring need at safety, particularly free safety, and it could look in free agency at a guy like Devin McCourty. If ge is not available, the free safety class in this year's draft is thin at the top, which means some guys may go a little higher due to other teams' needs.
A free safety who could slip to the third round is Fresno State's Derron Smith.
In 43 career games he registered 293 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, four sacks and 15 interceptions. Unlike a lot of free safeties, Smith has the ability to make an impact against both the pass and the run. In 2013 he spent a lot of time playing up-in-the-box run support and enjoyed it.
"I actually enjoyed dropping down to the box," Smith said before last season, via Kyle Glaser of The Press-Enterprise. "It's fun being in here. It's closer to the ball, closer to the action. I think it has helped elevate my game a bit showing I can do that."
In addition to being able to step up against the run, Smith displays tremendous range and ball skills in pass coverage. His biggest flaw is his overaggressiveness, as he tends to take poor angles instead of squaring himself up for a hit.
If the Bears were to draft him in the third round, he would immediately be expected to compete with Brock Vereen for the starting free safety spot next season.
Looking at the other side of the football, the Bears could try to add depth at the running back position.
The team already has running backs Matt Forte and Ka'Deem Carey, but the offense could benefit from having a change-of-pace player at the position.
The running back position appears to be stacked this year, but most teams still do not place a premium on selecting running backs early, particularly in the first round. If running backs fall in the draft this year like they have in the past, the Bears may be able to get a steal in the third round.
While it may be a long shot, it is possible that a guy like Nebraska's Ameer Abdullah could drop all the way to the third round. A quick runner with good hands, Abdullah could be the type of elusive running back who could spell Forte. Rotoworld's Evan Silva is very high on him, tweeting this from the Senior Bowl this week:
"Watched #Nebraska RB Ameer Abdullah. Great balance & lateral agil. Love his toughness. Imo better prospect than Jahvid Best was coming out.
— Evan Silva (@evansilva) January 20, 2015"
If the team is looking for more of straight-ahead runner, Alabama's T.J. Yeldon could be available. He is not the same type of bruising runner like his Alabama predecessors Trent Richardson and Eddie Lacy, but Yeldon has deceptive speed and hits the hole well.
The running back position is one of the least worrisome positions in 2015 for the Bears, but Forte is not getting any younger and Carey did little in limited opportunities last season. Bringing in a guy like Abdullah or Yeldon could help add some competition at the position and allow the organization to determine Forte's successor.
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Fourth Round: 103rd Overall
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After the first three rounds of the draft, teams can start taking chances on players with higher upside opposed to those who are considered to be safe picks.
If the Bears want to add a speedy complement to Alshon Jeffery and Brandon Marshall in the passing game, they may be able to find some talent in the fourth round.
Arguably the fastest wide receiver in this year's draft, Miami's Phillip Dorsett is the exact type of player Chicago's offense needs. He is explosive off the line of scrimmage and has the ability to stretch the field with his speed.
Bleacher Report's Matt Bowen was impressed with Dorsett's first day of practice at the Senior Bowl:
"Dorsett (5’10", 185 lbs) has ridiculous top-end speed, but I focused more on his route running during Monday’s session. The Miami product looked smooth as he worked upfield, chopped his feet at the top of the route and then accelerated back to the football in the intermediate passing game (curl, dig). Once Dorsett squares his pads after the catch, it’s easy to see the burst as he pushes the ball through the secondary. He's an exciting player. There's a lot of potential with Dorsett as a wide receiver—one who can align in multiple positions with game-breaking speed.
"
He finished his senior year with 871 yards on 36 catches with 10 touchdowns and showed in the past he is capable of returning punts and kicks.
Another receiver who could be available in the fourth round with a skill set similar to Dorsett is Maryland's Stefon Diggs.
A three-year starter for the Terrapins, Diggs broke is right fibula during his sophomore season but bounced back in 2014 to record 62 catches for 792 yards with five touchdowns. Like Dorsett, Diggs has good explosion off the line of scrimmage, but he does not have the top-end speed that Dorsett possesses. He is a solid route-runner and does well in open space. He also has experience returning kicks and punts.
Sixth Round: 167th Overall
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The Bears do not have a fifth-round pick in the 2015 draft after they traded their 2014 and 2015 fifth-rounders to Denver last May to move up and select safety Brock Vereen with the 131st overall pick.
Once the sixth round finally comes around, the Bears will likely be looking for guys with high upside who can help immediately on special teams.
The Bears already have a Pro Bowl tight end in Martellus Bennett, but they lack depth behind him. They could bring back Zach Miller, who had a strong training camp before an injury ended his season, or they could look to the draft to get younger at the position.
Unlike years past, the 2015 draft does not have much talent at the tight end position, particularly at the top. Most of the guys who will be drafted at the position will need to hone their craft at the next level.
South Alabama's Wes Saxton is not the flashiest tight end in this draft, but he does have some upside. He hauled in 96 catches for 1,126 yards with one touchdown in three seasons. While his numbers do not jump off the page, Lance Zierlein of NFL.com thinks Saxton has potential.
"Saxton has traits that have opened the eyes of some scouts. He can run and has the length and hands of an NFL tight end," he wrote.
He looks to be more of a "move" tight end—one who is moved around to create mismatches—instead of a blocking tight end.
While he does possess athleticism and size for the position, he needs to improve in plenty of areas.
"He's not a sudden mover and needs to be more decisive and focused in his movements, eliminating wasted steps and drops," CBSSports.com's Dane Brugler wrote. "Saxton needs to be more reliable in red-zone opportunities and prove that he's a dynamic threat when the offense needs him the most."
There is no guarantee a guy like Saxton will work out, but he has the type of upside that may be too difficult to pass up if he is still available in the sixth round.
The Bears could look to add depth at the linebacker position late in the draft, and Alabama's Trey DePriest could be available in the sixth round.
Expected to fill the shoes of former first-round pick C.J. Mosley last season, DePriest finished his senior season with 81 tackles and one forced fumble. He does not move particularly well from sideline to sideline, but he is a good downhill tackler who does a fine job of shedding blockers.
He could have an immediate impact on special teams in his rookie season and eventually develop into a run-stopping 3-4 inside linebacker .
Seventh Round: 199th Overall
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All bets are off when teams start selecting players in the seventh round. Players selected in later rounds are typically guys who have shown some promise at the collegiate level but need refinement to make an impact in the NFL.
One guy who may intrigue many teams in the seventh round is former Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall.
In 26 starts in two years, Marshall threw for 4,508 yards with 34 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, but the quarterback made the move to cornerback at the start of the Senior Bowl earlier this week, via Brandon Marcello of AL.com:
"Nick Marshall has decided to move to cornerback for the NFL Draft. More in a bit.
— Brandon Marcello (@bmarcello) January 20, 2015"
"There are a couple things I've gotta brush up on," Marshall said about the move, via Marcello. "It's going to be a challenge for me switching from quarterback to defensive back, but I'm willing to accept that challenge."
Bleacher Report's Matt Miller was asked about Marshall's move to cornerback on Twitter:
"It's a process. Athletically he's gifted, has the size. Needs time RT @AhZiNg17: What are your thoughts on Nick Marshall as a CB prospect?
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) January 21, 2015"
While he will certainly be raw, he does have terrific athleticism and could develop with good coaching. He has already shown the right attitude at the Senior Bowl.
"Whatever they ask, I'm going to do whatever they want me to play," Marshall said to The Associated Press, via ESPN.com. "Go out and make a good impression on them."
Another position the team could look to address in the seventh round is the offensive line. Many offensive linemen in the NFL were bypassed in the higher rounds of the draft and still ended up with successful careers.
Overshadowed by tackles Luke Joeckel, Jake Matthews and Cedric Ogbuehi while at Texas A&M, guard Jarvis Harrison could be a steal in the seventh round if he can improve his balance and effort at the point of attack.
Harrison spent some time at left tackle this past season, but he is best suited inside at guard. The Bears are set at both left and right guard for next season with Matt Slauson and Kyle Long, but Harrison could provide much-needed depth.
Statistical information courtesy of NFL.com or Sports-Reference.com.
Matt Eurich is an NFL/Chicago Bears Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report and a member of the Pro Football Writers of America.
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