Ranking Chicago Bears' Biggest Needs in 2017 NFL Draft

Most years, the Chicago Bears enter the NFL draft with a list of needs quite different from the one they carried into the offseason.

Going into the third year of what looks like an extensive rebuild, though, this isn't anywhere close to a typical year for general manager Ryan Pace and the front office.

The Bears made plenty of splashes in free agency on areas of need, yet none of the contracts hamper the organization long term from a financial standpoint. It speaks to Pace's desire to build through the draft. If guys he signs for a year or two pan out and stick, it's a bonus.

Long story short, it shouldn't come as a surprise to see positions addressed in free agency on a list like this. Here are the biggest needs the Bears need to address at the draft.

6. Wide Receiver/Tight End

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The Bears need more weapons on the offensive side of the football.

Breakout running back Jordan Howard figures to keep chugging along behind one of the league's top offensive lines next year. But the approach will stall if an unproven passing game struggles.

Chicago still awaits the breakout from Kevin White. He's got more upside than most wideouts in the league but hasn't been able to stay on the field. Cam Meredith was a nice surprise last year but needs more time to develop. Don't forget about tight end, where Zach Miller is an underrated weapon yet has his own problems with injuries.

As hinted in the intro slide, Chicago has already addressed these areas. At wideout, Markus Wheaton could provide a quality deep threat if he can stay on the field. Kendall Wright could be one of the better slot guys in the league if it all clicks. And tight end Dion Sims could continue his upward trend and keep developing as a receiver after mastering blocking duty.

None of this will stop the Bears from adding another weapon or two on draft day. The more shots the Bears have at finding a breakout player at a premium position, the better. Rookies can create competition, if not steal jobs outright with an added bonus of growing alongside a likely rookie quarterback.

5. Defensive End

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Defensive end often gets overlooked unless someone mocks the Bears a value pick like a Jonathan Allen.

Realistically speaking, though, Chicago has a big hole at the position. Akiem Hicks enters 2017 after a breakout year, and Eddie Goldman can hold his own on the nose when healthy, but the combo of Mitch Unrein and Jonathan Bullard at the other end spot leaves much to be desired.

Unrein is the kind of pro who keeps a placeholder job during a rebuild. He's served his role well, but ranking as the 24th 3-4 end at Pro Football Focus isn't doing his outlook any favors. Bullard's inability to break into more playing time suggests the same.

Admittedly, it's going to be hard for the Bears to grab a surefire starter outside of the first round. The best approach is addressing it later and getting a guy who can rotate on to the field and show up on hybrid fronts while pushing the comfortable roster spots of others.

Either way, don't forget about the need.

4. Linebacker

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By now, Bears fans understand the need to add another guy who can rush the passer opposite Leonard Floyd, he of a breakout rookie season last year.

Pernell McPhee is another strong pass-rushing presence on the roster, as is the veteran Willie Young, but the former's injury struggles have this looking like an area of need. Luckily for the Bears, addressing it with a high-upside athletic rusher can happen in the middle rounds or beyond.

It's easy to forget the Bears might have a gaping need on the inside too. Jerrell Freeman and Danny Trevathan make for one of the better sets of inside 'backers in the league, but Freeman served a four-game suspension last year and the latter might start the year on the physically unable to perform list thanks to a significant injury.

Multiple picks at linebacker might seem like overkill, but it's clear the Bears highly value the corps, meaning good value could produce a bit of a surprise on draft day.

3. Cornerback

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Corner is another spot the Bears already addressed yet will surely do so again in the draft. 

Marcus Cooper and Prince Amukamara are quality free-agent adds who can play on the boundary and could mesh quite well with defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.

But they aren't a sure thing.

Neither is former first-round pick Kyle Fuller or anyone else on the depth chart at the spot. The fact is, Chicago has upside but little in the way of assurances. If the front office and coaching staff see a talented young guy who fits well and is cheaper, adding him would create competition and complement the pace of the rebuild.

Like other spots, the veterans added to the roster give the Bears options on draft day. If they pan out and produce, even better. The door is ajar for the team to grab a corner at No. 3 or any other point.

No matter the round, the rookie better be ready to come in and fight for a roster spot—which goes doubly for everyone else already elbowing for room on the depth chart.

2. Safety

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Safety is one of the hardest positions in the NFL to get right.

The Bears took a step in a good direction with the signing of Quintin Demps. He's a young 31-year-old because he hardly played a role over the course of his first four years in the league yet grabbed six interceptions last year.

Now the trick is finding him a running mate.

This is a spot where the Bears will get the best value from taking a safety at No. 3 on through the third round. It's a deep class, and Pace can wait, but some coverage-savvy guys with range like Jamal Adams and Budda Baker won't last forever.

Chicago already has a borderline elite front seven when everyone can get on the field, not to mention the hybrid wrinkles. Improving on the back end of the unit is the next major step.

This would be quite the year to take it.

1. Quarterback

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Mike Glennon doesn't change much for the Bears at quarterback.

Maybe that's not fair to Glennon. He's 27 and could blossom in a stable environment after years of struggles with the downtrodden Tampa Bay Buccaneers. If he turns into a quality starter, it's the first big win at the position for the franchise in a long time.

But the Bears can't afford to wait. It's not often a team finds itself in a spot to perhaps find a next great franchise quarterback. This class isn't earning the biggest headlines by any means, but there are three or four guys Pace will probably be comfortable drafting.

Keep in mind the Bears can do this at No. 3 or in the second round, if not trading back up into the first round. A rookie wins either way—he won't have to start thanks to Glennon, and if the veteran crashes and burns, his contract is structured to be essentially nothing more than a one-year deal.

The dilemma here isn't so much the need but rather how the Bears address it. Each of the major four quarterbacks in the class has a notable red flag, whether it's DeShone Kizer's lack of winning and accuracy or Pat Mahomes coming from an Air Raid offense.

Pace will know which guy he wants to gamble on. Until the Bears have a reliable year-to-year starter to build around, it's safe to presume the front office will have its sights set on a top-tier prospect who can learn and thrive in the Windy City.

All contract information courtesy of Spotrac unless otherwise specified. Stats courtesy of NFL.com. All advanced metrics courtesy of Pro Football Focus.