Chicago Bears Insider: Predicting the Bears’ 2011 Draft
Published by Bryan Dietzler on March 21, 2011
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
If you’ve been keeping up with the Bears through some of the most popular media outlets, you may have some idea of what they are planning to do in the 2011 NFL Draft or at least have an idea of some of the players that the Bears may be interested in this year.
The following is a compilation of some of players and schools that the Bears have been interested in during the past few weeks and what this could mean for the draft this April.
The Bears have decided to bring in Northwest Missouri State cornerback Ryan Jones in for a visit. The Bears do need some depth at the cornerback position and it’s doubtful that they will reach for one until the later rounds of this year’s draft. Jones is a small school cornerback who had a successful collegiate career and is a pretty decent athlete.
What does this mean? It means that the Bears are indeed interested in adding some depth at the cornerback position and could be looking to do that in the middle to later rounds of the 2011 NFL Draft.
Chicago is paying a lot of attention to some of the players coming out of the University of Illinois this year. In need of someone to replace the now-departed Tommie Harris, the Bears have been looking at defensive tackle Corey Liuget quite a bit.
Liuget is a late first-round talent and could interest the Bears in the first round but their needs on the offensive line may dictate that they take someone else or possibly do some trading to get a guy like Liuget.
The Bears may also show a little interest in linebacker Martez Wilson due to the fact that the only linebackers they currently have under contract are Lance Briggs and Brian Urlacher. Wilson would be a late first to early second-round pick and it’s very doubtful that the Bears would spend their first-round pick on him.
Speaking of linebackers, Chicago has also shown some interest in Doug Hogue, a linebacker out of the University of Syracuse. Houge has the speed and ability that the team likes at the outside linebacker position and right now he looks like he could be a mid-round selection.
What does this mean? It means that the Bears are seriously looking for some much needed help at the linebacker position.
With the collective bargaining agreement up in the air and only two players signed to long-term contracts at the linebacker position, the Bears are going to have to try to do something in the draft so that they don’t fall behind at the position in 2011.
Another player that the Bears seem to have some interest in is Baylor’s Danny Watkins. Watkins is a little bit older than some of the other players in this draft (he’s 26) but he proved himself to be a pretty consistent player and could interest the Bears in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft.
Finally, the Bears have taken some looks at Florida guard/center Mike Pouncey recently and it’s said that they have put him through some workouts. Chicago would be wise to select Pouncey if he is available because of his ability to be versatile.
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