2009 B/R NFL Mock Draft, You Make the Call: Chicago Bears

1. Detroit Lions: Andre Smith; Offensive Tackle, Alabama
2. St. Louis Rams: Eugene Monroe; Offensive Tackle, Virginia
3. Kansas City Chiefs: Aaron Curry; Outside Linebacker, Wake Forest
4. Seattle Seahawks: Michael Crabtree; Wide Receiver, Texas Tech
5. Cleveland Browns: Malcolm Jenkins; Cornerback, Ohio State
6. Cincinnati Bengals: B.J. Raji; Defensive Tackle, Boston College
7. Oakland Raiders: Jeremy Maclin; Wide Receiver, Missouri
8. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jason Smith; Offensive Tackle, Baylor
9. Green Bay Packers: Brian Orakpo; Defensive End/Outside Linebacker, Texas
10. San Francisco 49ers: Rey Maualuga; Middle Linebacker, USC
11. Buffalo Bills: Aaron Maybin; Defensive End, Penn State
12. Denver Broncos: Alphonso Smith; Cornerback, Wake Forest
13. Washington Redskins: Everette Brown; Defensive End, Florida State
14. New Orleans Saints: James Laurinaitis; Middle Linebacker, Ohio State
15. Houston Texans:  Brian Cushing; Outside Linebacker, USC
16. San Diego Chargers:  Louis Delmas; Safety, Western Michigan

With the 17th pick in the 2009 B/R NFL Mock Draft, the New York Jets have selected...Matthew Stafford; Quarterback, Georgia. The Chicago Bears are now on the clock.

I find it very hard to believe that Matthew Stafford falls all the way to pick No. 17, but if he does, he would be a very good selection for a team in need of a franchise quarterback. Kellen Clemens is not the long-term answer in New York.

Now we head to the Windy City, where the Chicago Bears have capped off another inconsistent season. 

Since making it to the Super Bowl in 2007, the Bears have really struggled to find a niche. Maybe it was all just dumb luck back in 2006.  Still, Chicago has a solid mix of veterans and youngsters on both offense and defense, and is seemingly only a couple of draft picks away from being an elite franchise. 

This could be Lovie Smith's last draft as Chicago Bears head coach, so he really needs to make this one count.  Here are the Bears' top needs heading into draft day.

1.  Wide Receiver

2.  Right Tackle

3.  Defensive End

4.  Safety

5.  Quarterback

You make the call Bears fans!  Vote in the poll for the player you think Chicago should take with the 18th pick in this year's draft!

1.  Darrius Heyward-Bey; Wide Receiver, Maryland

Darrius Heyward-Bey is like Devin Hester, only five inches taller.  He is a speed demon who is a threat to score any time he touches the ball.  He could be the playmaker the Bears have lacked at wide receiver for so long.

2.  Hakeem Nicks; Wide Receiver, North Carolina

Nicks is a solid target who reminds me a lot of Dwayne Bowe.  He has spectacular catch written all over him, and would provide Kyle Orton with a solid possession target.  Brandon Lloyd is a free agent.

3.  Percy Harvin; Wide Receiver, Florida

Plain and simple, Harvin is a playmaker.  He can run, catch, throw, return kicks, and return punts.  While the Bears already have a similar utility man in Devin Hester, Harvin may be a bit more of a possession type receiver.

4.  Mark Sanchez; Quarterback, USC

I don't know if this is going to be a direction the Bears go on draft day, but it's certainly possible.  Sanchez has good experience in a pro-style offense, and could be their signal caller of the future.

5.  Vontae Davis; Cornerback, Illinois

Davis is an elite athlete with game-changing speed.  He is a physical specimen who, if he can develop his craft as a defensive back, could become an elite player at the next level.  Charles Tillman has clearly lost a step, and the Bears need to upgrade.

6.  Michael Oher; Offensive Tackle, Ole Miss

Whether Oher can kick over to the right side still remains to be seen.  He was regarded as one of the top prospects in last year's draft, and to have him fall here would be a great prize for the Bears. 

You make the call Bears fans!  Vote in the poll for the player you think is most worthy of the 18th pick in this year's draft!