Chicago Bears: Analyzing 10 Potential 1st-Round Draft Picks

I have mocked until I'm blue (and orange) in the face. Some of you have agreed with my selections, some of you would rather I take a long walk off a short plank. But I think all Bears fans can agree on one thing: there is no certain pick for Chicago at No. 19 in the draft.

In my mocks, I have had the Bears taking a wide receiver, a cornerback, a defensive end, a center and an offensive tackle. Of all of them, I'd say that my latest mock garnered the most negative commentary.

Yet regardless of which position you may feel the Bears need to upgrade, a compelling argument can be made for the Bears to take the best player available as long as that player does not play quarterback, running back, safety (it's a weak class) or the more obvious positions (punter, kicker, et al).

Meanwhile, that leaves quite a few candidates for Chicago to choose from. In this piece, I will take a look at players the Bears may realistically have a shot at, even though some may be taken before the team picks at No. 19.

So not all of these guys will still be on the board, but each of them are worthy of consideration. That said, let's analyze the best and know that there's a good chance that one of them ends up wearing a Bears uniform.

Michael Floyd, Wide Receiver, Notre Dame

After a tremendous NFL Combine, Floyd's draft stock has risen to the point where he is expected to be taken anywhere from No. 10 to No. 16. But if he is still on the board, the Bears will have to at least kick the tires.

Personally, I don't believe the Bears will take a wideout in the first round—that's why they traded for Brandon Marshall—but Floyd would be tough to turn down.

Floyd has a great combination of elite size, speed, good hands and also runs solid routes. If he was paired up with Marshall, Cutler would have a field day.

But I don't think Floyd will be available at No. 19 which is fine with me. I'd rather wait until the third round to find a complimentary receiver to add some depth in case Johnny Knox can't come back and they decide to release Roy Williams. Plus, if this was my team, Devin Hester would not be a receiver.

Melvin Ingram, Defensive End, South Carolina

Ingram is another player whose draft stock has shot through the roof. He had a real strong NFL Combine and could now go in the top 10. But if he's there at No. 19, I want the Bears to take him.

Ingram is very explosive off the ball and physical and would make a terrific bookend with Julius Peppers. Linemen have a tough time sustaining their blocks on him. He shows a variety of different moves and has a rare combination of agility and quickness.

The Bears need to help improve an inconsistent pass rush, so if they don't get a shot at Ingram, they will probably take Mercilus. If they don't get either, they may go for Vinny Curry in the second round.

Stephen Hill, Wide Receiver, Georgia Tech

Hill was one of the 26 prospects invited to the NFL draft at Radio City Music Hall in New York. Personally, I am not interested in having the Bears select Hill with their first pick. He is a good receiver with excellent size but I do not like the idea of stretching to draft a player.

Hill or Kendall Wright are the third best receivers in the draft, but Wright is only 5'10" so I'd take Hill of the two.

Meanwhile, Hill has excellent size and great leaping ability. He is a true downfield threat, as he averaged 29.3 yards per catch in 2011. Plus, Hill is a tremendous blocker.

However, he had only 49 career catches having played in a run-first, triple-option offense. He is too raw of a prospect for me to spend a first-round pick on.

Dre Kirkpatrick, Cornerback, Alabama

Kirkpatrick is another player I don't want the Bears to select in the first round. But with Morris Claiborne a potential top 10 pick, the only other corner I'd consider in Round 1 is Kirkpatrick. Janoris Jenkins has tremendous talent but too much baggage.

I hope the Bears don't select a corner with their first pick and Kirkpatrick had a poor combine anyway. He did look better at his pro day and did an excellent job of stopping LSU receiver Rueben Randle both times they played this season.

Kirkpatrick did not have any interceptions in 2011 though he was good at forcing fumbles. He was arrested for pot possession in January but the charges were dropped.

Jonathan Martin, Offensive Tackle, Stanford

An athletic left tackle with natural bend, lateral agility and good foot quickness, Martin is also expected to be taken before the Bears' pick, but they better look at him in case he slips. They need an upgrade over J'Marcus Webb. 

Martin has been protecting the blindside of QB Andrew Luck for the past two seasons. While he may not have showed elite athleticism during postseason workouts for scouts, there's little doubt he has the ability to stay on the left side at the next level.

The Bears need to provide help to Cutler's blindside and while that help may come in the form of Gabe Carimi moving to the left side, it could also happen via the draft.

Whitney Mercilus, Defensive End, Illinois

If Ingram is gone as expected, Mercilus will get strong consideration from the Bears with their first pick.

Mercilus is a solid pass rusher and would look good lining up opposite Julius Peppers. The only negative is that Mercilus doesn't have a long track record, with only one season of starting experience. 

Still, that one season was pretty damn good. He forces fumbles and gets to the quarterback with reckless abandon. He has also played some three technique but lacks the strength to play inside with the Bears.

Peter Konz, Center, Wisconsin

This one's an extreme long shot and not a choice I would personally make if I was drafting for the Bears. However, considering that the new offensive coordinator is the former line coach, one has to wonder.

Konz is 6'5" 315 lbs, but not a great athlete. He doesn't have great feet, but is able to pull well and is an excellent run blocker. Perhaps his best asset is in picking up line stunts and blitzes.

Konz has had some serious medical issues, but they seem to be behind him now.

Luke Kuechly, Linebacker, Boston College

Introducing the eventual replacement for Brian Urlacher. However, there are two problems here. First, he would immediately become a starter, so he would have to play elsewhere in the Bears defense unless Urlacher suddenly decides to retire. And two, he won't be available when the Bears pick at No. 19.

In the opening I said I would limit this article to players who have a realistic chance of being on the board when the Bears pick. But I included players like Ingram, Floyd and Kuechly because it's possible that they could drop, though it is highly unlikely.

I mean, players like WR Justin Blackmon and OT Matt Klalil will probably be taken in the top five, but these other guys I'm mentioning are not locks.

And if Kuechly was available, would the Bears take him? I'm guessing yes. Lovie Smith is a defensive-minded coach and while LB is not Chicago's most pressing need, Kuechly is one hell of a prospect with a chance of sneaking into the top 10.

Kuechly has great instincts and intelligence and any questions about his speed were put to rest at the NFL Combine.

Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

I hope CBSChicago.com's Adam Hoge is wrong, because he has the Bears taking Adams with the 19th pick in the draft and I personally don't like it. Sure, the Bears need a LT—J'Marcus Webb stinks—but I'd rather have Martin.

His Senior Bowl performance and 2011 season has some scouts moving Adams up the draft board quickly. Originally projected as a third-round pick, he may sneak into the late first-round.

Adams has had a couple off-field incidents, including one involving drug paraphernalia and another for receiving improper benefits.

Adams (6'7" 325 lbs) is a better pass protector than a run blocker.

Courtney Upshaw, DE, Alabama

CBSSportsline.com's Rob Rang picked Upshaw for the Bears in his latest mock, so I will review him here even though I find it unlikely that Chicago will take him in the draft.

It's not that Upshaw isn't a good player—he is—but I feel he is best suited to play in a 3-4 defense.

The reigning Defensive MVP of the BCS Championship Game (his second national title in three years), Upshaw is a stud who will likely be drafted before the Bears select at No. 19. Still, they need to do their due diligence on this physically gifted player.

Upshaw is probably best suited for outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme, so the Bears and other teams will want to get a good look at him to see if he can factor in a 4-3 defense.

Upshaw lacked the explosive, quick burst that Ingram showed at the Senior Bowl, but he did demonstrate a lot of power. The 6'2" 263-pound Upshaw had 51 tackles (17 tackles for a loss), 8.5 sacks and a pair of forced fumbles in 2011.

He's going to be a great player in the NFL.