Who Are the Experts Predicting to the Bears in the 1st Round of the NFL Draft?

Ever since the final selection was made in last year's NFL draft, experts have been trying to predict where each of college football's top prospects are going to land in the 2015 draft.

After a disappointing 2014 season, the Chicago Bears are set to pick seventh overall in this year's draft.

Chicago fired general manager Phil Emery earlier this offseason and brought in Ryan Pace to revamp the team's roster. Pace has been active in free agency, but he knows the key to winning championships is building through the draft.

“The recipe to winning Super Bowls is stringing successful drafts together again and again," Pace said at his introductory press conference, according to the Chicago Tribune. "We are not just collecting athletes. We are acquiring football players that fit the Chicago Bears."

The Bears looked poised to take a defensive player with their first pick before free agency began, but Pace's moves this offseason have given the Bears plenty of flexibility in the draft.

Here are five players experts are predicting to the Bears in the first round of the draft later this month. 

Kevin White, WR, West Virginia

Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Expert Predicting: CBSSports.com's Dane Brugler

The Bears lost depth at the wide receiver position after trading Brandon Marshall to the New York Jets last month, and CBSSports.com's Dane Brugler thinks the team will replace Marshall with West Virginia wide receiver Kevin White.

"This pick has to be defense, right?" Brugler wrote. "After the Brandon Marshall trade, wide receiver is now a possibility and with White still on the board, it's a match that makes sense."

The Bears added veteran slot receiver Eddie Royal in free agency, but White could help fill the void left by Marshall on the outside.

White hauled in just 35 catches for 507 yards and five touchdowns in 2013, but he skyrocketed up draft boards after hauling in 109 passes for 1,447 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2014.

He ran a 4.35-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine in February and measured in at 6'3" and 215 pounds. 

He has the ability to go up and get the football in traffic, has a great first step and knows how to use his size to get himself in the best position to make the catch.

There are some concerns about whether he is just a product of West Virginia's Air Raid offense, but if he can improve his route running at the next level, he has the chance to become a force in the NFL.

Danny Shelton, NT, Washington

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Expert Predicting: CBSSports.com's Rob Rang

The Bears hired John Fox to succeed Marc Trestman as head coach, and CBSSports.com's Rob Rang thinks the defensive-minded Fox will lobby for the Bears to take Washington nose tackle Danny Shelton with the seventh overall pick, writing:

"

With the hiring of defensive-minded head coach John Fox (who in turn hired former San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio), the Bears are looking for big improvements on that side of the ball. Fox and Fangio know better than most the value of dominant defensive linemen. The 6-2, 343-pound Shelton proved one of the elite prospects at the Senior Bowl. He's surprisingly quick and passionate in pursuit for a man of his size and eats up blocks, freeing up teammates to make big plays.

"

Shelton makes sense for the Bears because they lack depth at the position, but he does not fit the mold of a nose tackle in Fangio's 3-4 defense.

While Shelton's size makes him a prototypical, space-eating nose tackle, Fangio used smaller, athletic tackles while in San Francisco. Last year, Quinton Dial (6'5", 318 lbs) and Ian Williams (6'1", 305 lbs) got the majority of reps at nose tackle for the 49ers under Fangio.

Shelton is athletic and agile for his size, but he tends to slow down as the game wears on and often plays down to his competition. He is one of the best run-stoppers in this year's draft, but he needs to get better as a pass-rusher to be considered an every-down player.

Shelton has the ability to come in and contribute from Day 1, but the Bears may be able to find a better fit at the position later in the draft.

Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson

Tyler Smith/Getty Images

Expert Predicting: The MMQB's Peter King

The Bears added Pernell McPhee on the second day of free agency and signed veteran pass-rusher Sam Acho to a one-year deal earlier this month, but they still have a need at the outside linebacker position.

Lamarr Houston, Jared Allen and Willie Young will all get an opportunity to rush the passer from the outside in 2015, but The MMQB's Peter King thinks the team will use its first-round pick on Clemson pass-rusher Vic Beasley.

"Bears would love White or Cooper. New GM Ryan Pace might trade up for one," King wrote. "But John Fox loves rushers, and even after spending $39 million in free agency on Pernell McPhee, Beasley is the best value for the rush-starved Bears."

In four years at Clemson, Beasley registered 90 total tackles, 52.5 tackles for loss and 33 sacks. He has a quick first step, a relentless motor and possesses one of the best spin moves in this year's draft. 

He needs to get stronger at the point of attack and has to improve against the run, but he has the ability to be an immediate contributor next season for the Bears as a pass-rusher.

In addition to predicting Beasley to the Bears with the seventh overall pick, King also has the Bears trading the 39th, 106th and 192nd picks to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for the 31st overall pick to select cornerback Byron Jones. 

"Shot in the dark. The clues: Bears were 30th in the NFL against the pass last year; Bear corners are ancient; new GM Ryan Pace comes from Mickey Loomis’ classroom in New Orleans," King wrote. "And Pace knows the Patriots love UConn players, and had a contingent Tuesday at Husky Pro Day, where Jones ran 4.38 and 4.44."

Jones has been rising up draft boards this offseason after setting a combine record with a 12'3" broad jump. He even broke a world record, according to Bruce Feldman of Fox Sports:

"

Byron Jones 12-3 broad jump is ridiculous. By far best ever at the NFL Combine & even bested the old world record: http://t.co/LvGQwmRDbu

— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) February 23, 2015"

He displays good footwork and has the speed to keep up with most NFL wide receivers, but he struggles with his technique.

Jones would be a welcomed addition to Chicago's secondary, but considering all of the needs the team has on both sides of the football, it is unlikely the Bears will be willing to trade three picks to move back into the first round to take him.

Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Expert Predicting: Bleacher Report's Matt Miller

Just like Brugler, Bleacher Report's Matt Miller thinks the Bears will select a wide receiver with their first pick, but he believes it will be Alabama's Amari Cooper, writing:

"

Amari Cooper is the best player available. And thanks to the Bears' moves in free agency—Pernell McPhee and Antrel Rolle are the big ones—they're now free to go after a best-player situation. But this is also about a need. The Bears shipped Brandon Marshall to the Jets, and now have Eddie Royal and Marquess Wilson opposite Alshon Jeffery. Fine players, sure, but not Amari Cooper-like talents. 

With seven rounds of draft picks, the Bears can start reloading on defense after they get a blue-chip wide receiver prospect in Round 1.

"

Cooper was a Heisman Trophy finalist last season after registering 124 catches for 1,727 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2014. He has great size (6'1", 211 lbs) for the position and is one of the best route-runners in this year's draft. 

Nick Saban, Cooper's head coach at Alabama, had nothing but good things to say about Cooper at Alabama's pro day last month.

"He's got great quickness, great speed. He's got really good size, very good hands and some running ability after the catch," Saban said, according to Michael Casagrande of AL.com. "And I think if you're looking at critical factors at his position, that covers about everything that's important to most people."

He has the ability to be productive in the short-to-intermediate passing game because of his physicality, and he can also be effective in the deep passing game because of his ability to create separation.

Just like White, Cooper has the ability to step in and contribute from Day 1 in the passing game.

Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

Expert Predicting: NFL.com's Lance Zierlein

While many experts have been focusing on the defensive line, outside linebacker and wide receiver positions for the Bears in this year's draft, NFL.com's Lance Zierlein thinks the Bears will use their first pick on Michigan State cornerback Trae Waynes.

"The Bears thought they could overcome defensive deficiencies with their offense, and they were wrong," Zierlein wrote. "Waynes steps in to take over for 'Peanut' Tillman."

The Bears addressed the cornerback position in last year's draft by taking Kyle Fuller with the 14th overall pick, but they lack depth at the position behind Fuller and Tim Jennings.

Fuller had his share of ups and downs last season, but he has a chance to develop into a solid starting cornerback under Fangio and new defensive backs coach Ed Donatell. Jennings will turn 32 later this year and is coming off a disappointing 2014 campaign. After hauling in 13 interceptions between 2012 and 2013, he failed to register an interception last season. 

Waynes is a physical, bump-and-run cornerback who could thrive in Fangio's defense. He is not afraid to play physical and is one of the more technically sound cornerbacks in this year's draft. He ran a 4.31 40-yard dash at the combine, and many were impressed by his performance.

"I didn't think anyone had a better combine than (Trae Waynes)," an NFC director of personnel said, according to Zierlein. "He was faster than I thought and looked great in the drills. He's the top corner and I don't think it's close."

If the Bears draft Waynes, he and Fuller could develop into one of the league's best cornerback duos for years to come. 

Statistical information courtesy of Sports-Reference.com. Combine numbers and measurables courtesy of NFL.com.

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

Follow @MattEurich