Chicago Bears Insider: The Final Mock Draft of the Year

We are now less than seven days away from the start of the 2011 NFL Draft.  After months of speculation, evaluation and interviewing it has finally come down to what happens on the 28th, 29th and 30th of this month.

Will the Bears make wise choices in this year’s draft and not take chances on players?  Will they try to fill their immediate needs on the offensive and defensive line first before trying to go for players at other positions?  Will they be able to come up with some gems in this year’s draft?

We will soon find out the answer to all of these questions as the draft is almost here.

It’s time for just one more mock draft before the draft comes so let’s take a round by round look at the Bear’s possibilities in each round of the 2011 NFL Draft.

Round 1, Pick 29 (29th Overall) Derek Sherrod: OT, Mississippi State

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TUSCALOOSA, AL - NOVEMBER 15: J.C. Brignone #70 and Derek Sherrod #79of the Mississippi State Bulldogs get ready on the line of scrimmage during the game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 15, 2008 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama

The Bears would make a good choice if they were able to get Sherrod here in the first round. The acquisition of Sherrod would allow them to shuffle their offensive line in order to protect Jay Cutler and help the running game.

The Bears may also decide to trade out of the first round and acquire additional picks, which may be a more ideal scenario. But if they choose to hang onto that first-round pick then Sherrod would be the best bet for them.

Round 2, Pick 30 (62nd Overall) Jarvis Jenkins: DT, Clemson

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AUBURN, AL - SEPTEMBER 18: Jarvis Jenkins #99 of the Clemson Tigers against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on September 18, 2010 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

You may not have heard much about Jenkins heading into this year’s draft but he’s quietly become a hot commodity and will be selected somewhere in the late second to early third round.  That’s right where the Bears pick and they could have some interest in Jenkins, a player that would fit well in their defensive scheme and give them some improvement on their defensive line.

Round 3, Pick 29 (93rd Overall) John Moffitt: G/C, Wisconsin

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COLUMBUS, OH - OCTOBER 10: Offensive lineman John Moffitt #74 of the Wisconsin Badgers blocks against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium on October 10, 2009 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

The Bears need some help at both the center and guard position and Moffit may be just the guy they need.  Moffitt may be a better fit at the guard position, and the Bears need help there especially since current starter Roberto Garza is nearing the end of his career and the Bears aren’t quite sure how Chris Williams (a converted tackle) is going to work at that position.

Round 4, Pick 30 (127th Overall) Curtis Brown: CB, Texas

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AUSTIN, TX - NOVEMBER 07: Cornerback Curtis Brown #3 of the Texas Longhorns prepares for a game against the UCF Knights on November 7, 2009 at Darrell K Royal - Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. Texas won 35-3. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

Chicago’s need for depth at the cornerback position is obvious and being that this draft has some nice depth at CB, they could wait until the fourth round to draft one.  Brown would be a good player to bring in and develop as he could be a starter on the team in the future.

Round 5, Pick 29 (160th Overall) Doug Houge: LB, Syracuse

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STATE COLLEGE, PA - SEPTEMBER 12: Tailback Stefon Green #21 of the Penn State Nittany Lions is tackled short of the goal line by linebacker Doug Hogue #32 of the Syracuse Orangemen during the second half at Beaver Stadium September 12, 2009 in State Coll

This has been a pick that I have been making in almost every mock draft that I have done for the Bears this offseason.  I will stick by the fact that the Bears like Houge and need help at outside linebacker, especially with the contract troubles they already have with the LBs on the team. He would be a nice addition that would help improve the Bears depth at the position.

Round 6, Pick 30 (195th Overall) T.J. Yates: QB, North Carolina

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CHAPEL HILL, NC - NOVEMBER 13: James Gayle #99 of the Virginia Tech Hokies runs after T.J. Yates #13 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during their game at Kenan Stadium on November 13, 2010 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty I

The Bears have talked about bringing in a quarterback that they can develop into an eventual starter and there are some that feel that Yates could be a starter sometime down the road.  The sixth round would be the best round for the Bears to get a quarterback and Yates just might be the right fit.