The Chicago Bears have a lot of needs on their team. Many positions need to be filled if they want to be competitors in the NFC North. Here are the Chicago Bears 2017 NFL Draft top three needs.
Chicago Bears 2017 NFL Draft: Top 3 Needs
Free Safety
The Bears could use help on defense, as they have to face Matthew Stafford and Aaron Rodgers twice a year. There are a lot of options at free safety, as well.
Malik Hooker out of Ohio State seems to be the top prospect at that position. He recorded seven interceptions last season in Columbus. What is more impressive about that is three of those interceptions when all the way for a touchdown.
Another name that stands out is Jamal Adams out of LSU. He recorded an amazing 76 tackles in 2016 and one interception. He is a good shutdown corner and has shown he could make tackles when needed.
If Chicago wants some versatility, however, Jabrill Peppers is the way to go. The Michigan prospect was a key player on offense, defense, and special teams for the Wolverines in 2016. If he can do that with the Bears, he could see himself as the next Devin Hester.
Wide Receiver
The Bears didn’t have a wide receiver outside of Alshon Jeffery that showed amazing speed. Now Jeffery is with the Philadelphia Eagles, which means the Bears don’t have that top receiver anymore.
With the third overall pick, the Bears could look to go after the top receiver in the draft. The two names that stick out are Mike Williams out of Clemson and Corey Davis out of Western Michigan.
Williams recorded 1,361 yards with Deshaun Watson throwing to him. Davis recorded 1,500 yards with Zach Terrell throwing to him. That’s one way someone could look at it.
Another way someone could look at it is that Davis has had more playing time. Williams missed just about all of 2015 with injury. He only recorded 20 receiving yards that season.
Davis has seen more playing time. He caught 1,429 yards in 2015. That could be something Chicago looks at. If they decide to go wide receiver with the third pick, Davis would be the best fit.
Quarterback
Jay Cutler is not the right quarterback to start for any team, let alone the Bears. It’s time for them to move on from him and find their next quarterback.
The Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers will also be looking for a new quarterback, but it’s unlikely they go for one at the very beginning of the draft. The Bears may not wait.
There are several good quarterbacks in this year’s draft. The top one seems to be Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson. The reigning national champion has played in the last two title games and shined in both.
He’s also shined in every season he’s played at Clemson. He finished his career with 10,168 passing yards and 90 touchdown passes. Wagain could be the Bears next franchise quarterback if that’s the direction they decide to go in.
There’s a lot of options for Chicago at the third spot. It will be interesting to see where they go on Thursday.
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