2011 Chicago Bears NFL Draft Needs

The Chicago Bears are on the clock with the 29th overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. Let’s take a look at their biggest needs and how those needs might be addressed on draft day.

1. Offensive Tackle: The Bears need to land a player who can eventually be their starting left tackle, if not from day one. Chicago has a lot of money wrapped up in quarterback Jay Cutler and it needs to assemble a line that can keep him upright. The Bears will be targeting the best available offensive tackle when they pick at No. 29 and that could be Colorado’s Nate Solder or Mississippi State’s Derek Sherrod. The Bears are praying Solder falls into their lap here. At over 6-foot-8 and nearly 320 pounds, and with outstanding athleticism, Solder shows tons of potential. Unfortunately, that potential may take him off the board a little bit earlier, which would leave Chicago targeting the next best tackle. Sherrod is likely that player here. He’s not a game one starter at left tackle, and may even be a bit of a reach here, but he fills a definite need along the offensive line. The versatility he shows to be able to move down inside to guard makes him an attractive option. If Chicago chooses to address this need later, it could potentially get a player like Villanova’s Benjamin Ijalana in round two or Penn State’s Stefen Wisniewski in round three.

2. Defensive Tackle: The Bears ranked ninth in the NFL in total defense, allowing 314.3 yards per game last season, and they’ll need to think about adding a solid defensive tackle early if they don’t want to see a drop off. Chicago released Tommie Harris and there is no guarantee Anthony Adams will be back. With this being the case, Chicago could also look to take the best available defensive tackle on the board with their top pick. That player is most likely North Carolina’s Marvin Austin at this stage of the game. Austin has been graded as a second rounder but the Bears may decide to take him in round one if they don’t think he’ll still be around when they pick again in round two. Austin shows the potential to be the future anchor up front in Chicago’s Tampa 2 scheme.

3. Wide Receiver: Not only do the Bears need to protect Cutler, but they need to surround him with some serious playmakers. Devin Hester and Johnny Knox are serviceable but not spectacular. Chicago could really use an A.J. Green or Julio Jones but those guys will be long gone when it comes time for the Bears to pick. With this in mind, they’ll be looking to land a guy like Hawaii’s Greg Salas in round three. He has decent size at over 6-foot-1 and 210 pounds and scouts rave about his toughness.

4. Center: The Bears say re-signing Olin Kreutz is a priority but they’ll be in some serious trouble if he decides to play elsewhere. It’s unclear which players might fill this need in the latter rounds, but it isn’t out of the question for Chicago to move up the board in an effort to land Florida’s Mike Pouncey.

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