2012 NFL Mock Draft: Chicago Bears' 7-Round Wish List

There are predictions and then there are wish lists. This is an optimistic wish list that the Bears hope will come true. After all, the holidays are coming up and the Bears need some players under their tree.

They are getting a bit long in the tooth on defense, as all of their top players—Brian Urlacher, Julius Peppers, Lance Briggs and Charles Tillman—are all 30 or older.

So, in this mock draft, all of their needs magically fall to them and they fulfill their positional wish list. Now, I'm not so crazy as to suggest that a Top 10 player falls to them in the first round, but let's just say our glass is half full.

So let's get to it, and start selecting the college players that will be the next Brian Urlachers and the new Julius Peppers, while also filling in some needs at the skill positions while we're at it.

1st Round: Luke Kuechly, MLB, Boston College

I wrestled with the idea of picking a wide receiver with the Bears' first pick, but instead this All-American middle linebacker falls to the Bears and he is too good to pass up.

With Notre Dame's Michael Floyd as the best WR on the board at this time, the Bears go with the eventual replacement for Brian Urlacher.

The Bears have a long and storied history at the MLB position, with Hall of Famers Bill George, George Connor, Dick Butkus and Mike Singletary having played the position prior to future Hall of Famer, Urlacher.

Meanwhile, Kuechly moved to middle linebacker at the beginning of his sophomore season and led the country with 183 tackles and has a streak of 21 straight games with at least 10 tackles.

2nd Round: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

I know that Konz is projected to be a first-round pick, but first of all, this is a wish list and is supposed to be optimistic by nature. Second, teams normally don't draft centers very high.

Let's say the Bears move up to draft near the beginning of the second round. They have two third-round picks, so I'm suggesting they trade one of those picks to move up.

In any case, center is a position the Bears desperately need to upgrade and Konz is the best on the board.

He can come in and start right away, allowing Roberto Garza to finish his career at guard.

He would team up long-term rather nicely with fellow Badger offensive lineman Gabe Carimi to give the Bears a solid line for the future.

3rd Round: Kendall Wright, WR/KR, Baylor

Again, this is a very optimistic pick, as Wright is expected to go in the second round. But if he's on the board, the Bears grab him and he is developed as the team's true No. 1 wideout, which they so desperately need.

Wright is not a big guy, standing only 5'10", but led Baylor with 78 receptions and 952 yards (12.2 yards per catch), breaking the school record for receptions in a season.

Wright has had a reception in all 39 games of his collegiate career and tied a school mark with 19 touchdowns.

Despite his size, he has an incredible 42" vertical. He was a QB in high school, and was two-for-two passing this season with a TD.

3rd Round (from Carolina): TRADED

Remember, in my hypothetical situation, the Bears traded this pick in order to move up in the second round to take the best center in college football.

4th Round: Leonard Johnson, CB, Iowa State

So, the Bears have drafted their center replacement for Olin Kreutz/Roberto Garza, have taken the successor to Brian Urlacher and have drafted a true No. 1 wideout.

Not a bad haul.

Naturally, next on the list is a cornerback. The Bears need one, plus they need an eventual replacement for Tillman.

Enter Leonard Johnson, a 5'11" corner who was fourth on the team in tackles (64), including several for a loss. He also forced two fumbles.

He intercepted two passes while breaking up seven others. He would be a great value pick for Chicago, as he is expected to go early third round.

5th Round: Billy Winn, DT, Boise State

Another terrific value pick who was expected to go in the fourth round, Winn, a 6'4", 288-pound defensive tackle, recorded 9.5 tackles for a loss and four sacks in 2010.

Winn moves between the three- and five-technique spots regularly in Boise's scheme, and even plays outside the tackle at times despite approaching 300 pounds. He has an unusual combination of agility and strength.

He could be an end in a 3-4, but with the Bears he will play tackle.

6th Round: Cordarro Law, DE, Southern Miss

Law is a great pick in the sixth round, as he is expected to go as high as the fourth round by some, and certainly the fifth round.

He was named the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week after his performance against Louisiana Tech in the season opener. Law registered eight tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble.

He moved into the top five on Southern Miss' all-time sacks list.

7th Round: Dennis Kelly, OT, Purdue

Kelly is not only a 6'8" (and growing) left tackle who has caught the eye of scouts, he is related to one of my co-workers, so I know he is a good kid.

He has been a four-year starter and would be a steal in the seventh round. He is big and after putting on some more weight will be massive, and yet he is very athletic.

He excels in pas blocking, and could eventually challenge current Bears LT J'Marcus Webb, who is also athletic but has had challenges protecting Jay Cutler's blindside.

He is a local kid who would relish the opportunity to play for the Bears and it would allow his parents to see all of his games.