ESPN

The early stages of free agency typically serve as the first step for teams to address their personnel needs.

Sometimes those moves are more than enough to solve a club's problems, but in other cases teams need to have a solid continuation plan for the NFL draft.

Here are four teams (Chicago Bears, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New York Jets, Minnesota Vikings) that need a strong draft plan, as well as a suggestion as to what that plan could entail.

Read the entire story

.

The NFL announced entire the seven-round draft order on Tuesday, and the Chicago Bears own seven picks and weren't awarded any compensatory selections.

The league awards compensatory picks for teams losing more or better compensatory free agents than it acquires in the previous year, and the number of selections a team receives equals the net loss of compensatory free agents (maximum of four).

The league announced it awarded 32 compensatory picks on Monday. NFC North teams received six selections, with the Packers being awarded the max allocation of picks: two in the fourth round (Nos. 132 and 133) and two in the seventh (Nos. 241 and 243). Minnesota received two fourth-rounders (Nos. 128 and 134).

In addition to the 19th overall pick, the Bears pick 50th, 79th, 111th, 150th, 184th, and 220th. The Bears will likely target receiver, defensive end, cornerback, and linebacker, and try to address depth along the offensive line. The actual draft order makes it a little easier to predict which direction the Bears may go in a given round.

Reporting from the Super Bowl in Indianapolis, ESPN Chicago's Jeff Dickerson discusses what the Bears may do in the NFL Draft.

ESPN NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper released his first mock draft on Wednesday, and it's not surprising -- considering Chicago's need at the position -- he's got the Chicago Bears using the 19th pick to select Notre Dame receiver Michael Floyd.

Less than stellar play at the position and the need to surround quarterback Jay Cutler with more weapons likely play into Kiper's thinking here, not to mention the unexpected time frame for the recovery of Johnny Knox, who suffered a broken vertebrae in a Dec. 18 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

Aside from Earl Bennett, there's not much for the Bears to work with in terms of receivers (and, no, Devin Hester hasn't yet developed into what the team expected). So Kiper's pick here makes a ton of sense. After all, the Bears haven't drafted a receiver in the first round since -- brace for it -- David Terrell in 2001. Over the past 10 drafts, the Bears have selected a total of 12 receivers (although Hester was originally drafted as a cornerback), but none in the last two drafts.

So clearly, it's time for the Bears to draft a receiver. The question is whether the club does it in the first round.

Floyd (6-foot-3, 224 pounds) fits the bill as the big target everyone seems to be clamoring for, and currently ranks No. 20 on Kiper's big board. Kiper also has the receiver listed as the second-best prospect at the position behind Oklahoma State's Justin Blackmon (6-2, 215).

In the past, the Bears have said they're not necessarily looking for saints when it comes to questions about character. But it's important to remember this team is still reeling from the drug arrest of free-agent acquisition Sam Hurd. So it's worth questioning whether the Bears would take a shot on Floyd, who was arrested and charged with "operating while intoxicated" in March 2010, just 15 months after authorities in Minneapolis hit him with an underage drinking charge, which ultimately led to the team suspending him for spring 2011.

Durability has also been an issue with Floyd missing time in 2009 with a broken collarbone, and three games in 2008 because of a knee injury.

Here's what Scouts Inc. had to say about Floyd's big-play ability: "Is a mismatch for some DB's because of his size. Is not going to run by most cover corners in the NFL, but he has enough speed to challenge vertically, and he has the length/hand-eye coordination to come down with the jump ball. Not very elusive and will not make the first defender miss with any consistency. He does show good vision after the catch, and he's a physical runner that will break some attempted arm tackles by DBs."

Here's Scouts Inc.'s take on Floyd's competitiveness: "Not afraid to go over the middle but clearly more comfortable working outside the hashes. Effort is adequate as a blocker. He leaves his feet a bit too frequently. Lacks great lower body strength and struggles to sustain at times but he typically is in good position and can use his long arms and solid upper body strength to shield the DB sufficiently. Will get lazy at times and try to pull in one-handed catch when he clearly should and can use both hands (see third quarter 2010 Sun Bowl vs. Miami)."

Despite the Bears having a vacancy at the general manager position, once the new hire is made, he'll surely be taking a look at Floyd along with other receivers such as Blackmon, Baylor's Kendall Wright (5-10, 190) and South Carolina's Alshon Jeffery (6-4, 232).

Yes, there's still plenty for the Bears to do internally regarding openings on the coaching staff and front office. But it's always fun to take a look ahead at some of the team's potential draft prospects.

This year marks just the second time in franchise history the Bears hold the No. 19 overall selection in the NFL Draft. Back in the spring of 1980, the Bears used pick No. 19 to select Louisville linebacker Otis Wilson, who eventually went on to have eight impact seasons on defense before injuries cut short his playing career.

This is the type of player the Bears need to find at No. 19. An impact guy who can contribute immediately, although Wilson didn't technically become a full-time starter until 1981, and remain in the starting line-up for at least the next five or six seasons. Those players do exist. Now it's up to the Bears to find them.

Here is early look at who might be available based on positions of need if the Bears remain at No. 19 in the first round. This list is subject to change based on the upcoming Senior Bowl and NFL Combine, where plays both rise and fall based on performance and interaction with NFL front office personnel.

RECEIVERS

Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame: Several mock drafts have Floyd going to the Bears at his spot. Based on his college career, it would appear Floyd has the big-time playmaking ability the Bears desperately need at wide receiver.

Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor: A vertical threat who draws comparisons to Pittsburgh's Mike Wallace. If he's truly the next Wallace, I'm onboard with the selection.

Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina: Jeffery might be considered a reach at No. 19, but the 6-4 wideout had 3,042 receiving yards in just three seasons in the rough and tumble SEC.

SAFETY

Mark Barron, S, Alabama: Barron represents the best of a weak safety class. He has the reputation of being an intelligent player but also a big-time hitter.

CORNERBACK

Alfonzo Denard, CB, Nebraska: The Cornhuskers' shutdown corner is pegged by many to be a mid-first round selection.

Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama: Jenkins is supposed to be supremely talented, but troubled off the field. Jerry Angelo stayed away from these picks in the post-Tank Johnson era. Will the new Bears general manager share the same philosophy?

Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina: A big cornerback (6-1,194 pounds) who intercepted eight passes and recorded 181 tackles in three college seasons.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN

Quinton Coples, DT, North Carolina: Might not make it out of the Top 10, but Coples is a versatile lineman whose calling card is getting after the quarterback.

Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State: Lovie Smith wants athletes on the defensive line. Worthy never had huge sack totals at MSU, but has a quick first step and all the necessary athleticism to make an impact in the NFL.

Nick Perry, DE, USC: Not a traditional fit in terms of body type (6-3, 250 pounds) for Smith's defense, but Perry did lead the Pac-12 with 9.5 sacks.

LINEBACKER

Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College: At some point the Bears must replace Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs. Kuechly was the 2011 Butkus Award winner.

Recently fired Chicago Bears general manager Jerry Angelo won 95 regular-season games and four division titles during his 11-year tenure in Chicago. But most critics will point to Angelo's draft record as a primary reason the veteran talent evaluator was let go on Tuesday. Here is a list of the top five hits and misses since Angelo took full control of the Bears draft in the spring of 2002.

Hits

1. Lance Briggs -- third round (2003) -- This season marked the seventh straight Pro Bowl selection for Briggs, the perfect fit at weakside linebacker in the Bears Cover 2 defensive scheme. Briggs and veteran Brian Urlacher are widely considered one the best, or the best, linebacker tandem in the entire NFL.

2. Matt Forte -- second round (2008) -- Selected to his first Pro Bowl in 2011, Forte has established himself as one of the top all-around tailbacks in the league. However, his unresolved contract situation, plus the negative attention it received in the press, might have been one of the factors in Angelo losing his job.

3. Charles Tillman -- second round (2003) -- A model of consistency at the cornerback position. Tillman finally earned a Pro Bowl nod after years of solid play. Tillman's uncanny ability to strip the football and force turnovers has made him one of the core members of three division winning defenses.

4. Devin Hester -- second round (2006) -- Hester never developed into a upper echelon receiver, but he is the best return man in the history of the NFL. Enough said.

5. Johnny Knox -- fifth round (2009) -- Once again, Knox has flaws as a wideout, but in the fifth round, he is considered a steal. Knox made the Pro Bowl his rookie year as a return man, and has made enough big plays in the passing game the last three years to be considered a viable weapon.

Honorable mention: Alex Brown (fourth round, 2002), Tommie Harris (first round, 2004), Bernard Berrian (third round, 2004), Nate Vasher (fourth round, 2004), Chris Harris (sixth round, 2005), Kyle Orton (fourth round, 2005), Greg Olsen (first round, 2007), Corey Graham (fifth round, 2007), Earl Bennett (third round, 2008) and Henry Melton (fourth round, 2009).

Misses

1. Michael Haynes -- first round (2003) -- The defensive end last only three seasons in Chicago and never came close to making an impact. He finished his Bears career with 5.5 sacks.

2. Dan Bazuin -- second round (2007) -- Bazuin suffered a pair of injuries right out of the gate, went on injured reserve as a rookie, then was cut the following summer. He doesn't even appear on the Bears official all-time roster.

3. Michael Okwo -- third round (2007) -- Lovie Smith deserves much of the blame for the Bears selection of Okwo, who they touted as the heir-apparent to Briggs. The only problem: Okwo couldn't play and some wondered if he even liked football.

4. Mark Bradley - second round (2005) -- Bradley showed promise early his first year before tearing his knee up at Ford Field. He never recovered. To make matters worse, Bradley acted like he was entitled. That lasted until 2008 when the wide receiver was finally released.

5. Cedric Benson -- first round (2005) -- Benson went on to have a nice career with Cincinnati, but he was a disaster in Chicago. Another member of the entitlement club, Benson was handed the starting job in 2007 and flopped. A few legal issues later and he was gone. And to think; the Bears traded Thomas Jones to make room for this guy.

Honorable mention: Roosevelt Williams (third round, 2002), Dusty Dvoracek (third round, 2006), Marcus Harrison (third round, 2008), Jarron Gilbert (third round, 2009) and Juaquin Iglesias (third round, 2009).

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- All five Chicago Bears 2011 draft picks are under contract as the team announced Friday it has agreed to a deal with first-round choice offensive tackle Gabe Carimi.

Read the entire story.

CHICAGO -- Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Nate Enderle signed a four-year contract with the club on Wednesday.

Enderle passed for 8,181 yards and 62 touchdowns as a four-year starter for the University of Idaho. The quarterback led the 2009 Idaho squad to a victory over Bowling Green in the Humanitarian Bowl -- the Vandals' first postseason appearance in 11 years.

The Bears were determined to draft a developmental quarterback in 2011 after a 2010 training camp injury to Caleb Hanie ultimately forced the team to cut former sixth-round choice Dan LeFevour prior to the start of the last season.

After the injury to Hanie, the Bears acquired veteran quarterback Todd Collins and waived LeFevour with the intent of bringing him back on the practice squad. But the Cincinnati Bengals swooped in and signed LeFevour to their 53-man roster, leaving the Bears without a young quarterback for Martz to develop in his system.

Enderle is expected to open training camp as the Bears' No. 3 quarterback behind incumbent starter Jay Cutler and Hanie.

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- The Chicago Bears achieved their goal of bringing in a developmental quarterback by selecting Idaho's Nathan Enderle in the fifth round (No. 160 overall) on the draft's third day, before wrapping up the 2011 class with depth at linebacker in West Virginia product J.T. Thomas, a sixth-round pick.

"We worked with the coaches on this, we worked him out personally, and feel good about the selection," Bears director of player personnel Tim Ruskell said. "He's a big guy. He's got a very strong arm. He's a very intelligent man and intelligent quarterback. I saw him two years when I was in Seattle and saw him play against Jake [Locker] in Washington and he really went toe to toe with him."


Read the entire story.

ESPNChicago's positional breakdowns

DT | OT | G | C | DE | RB | WR | QB | TE | S | LB | CB | K/P

Chris Harris made an astute observation recently in pointing out the Chicago Bears have drafted six players at safety in the past seven years.

So don’t be surprised if the number increases after the 2011 draft.

The team finally solidified the position in 2010 by bringing back Harris to start alongside Danieal Manning, who finally came into his own as an NFL safety. But there’s still uncertainty for the future, given the status of Harris' and Manning’s contracts (Harris is entering the final year of his deal, while Manning -- depending on how things play out with negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement -- is set to test free agency, or play on a one-year tender offer) and the team’s insistence on finding a way to get 2010 third-round pick Major Wright into the starting lineup.

Based on the fluidity of the situation with the players on the roster, and the Bears' track record for adding to the position in recent years, they might look to bolster depth at safety next week in the later rounds of the NFL draft.

Here’s a look at the top 20 at the position, and what rounds they’re projected to be drafted:

The next 10:11. Will Hill, Florida 6-1, 202; 12. Da’Norris Searcy, North Carolina, 5-11, 223; 13. Chris Culliver, South Carolina, 6-2, 197; 14. Chris Conte, California, 6-2, 197; 15. Deunta Williams, North Carolina, 6-2, 205; 16. Jerrard Tarrant, Georgia Tech, 6-0, 204; 17. Mistral Raymond, South Florida, 6-1, 194; 18. Jermale Hines, Ohio State, 6-1, 219; 19. Nate Williams, Washington, 6-0, 211; 20. Eric Hagg, Nebraska, 6-1, 209.

Position grade: C+

Analysis: Despite having emerged as one of the NFL’s better strong safeties, Manning doesn’t appear to be in the Bears' 2011 plans as a starter, partially because of their desire to find a prominent role for Wright, a talented third-round pick in 2010.

As it stands now, Manning is a restricted free agent who was given a one-year tender offer in February. But once a new CBA is reached, it’s likely that Manning becomes an unrestricted free agent, and there’s sure to be a market for his services. So there’s a chance Manning won’t be back.

Perhaps that’s why the Bears appear to be going into 2011 with Wright and Harris penciled in as the starters.

If that turns out to be the direction the Bears take, Josh Bullocks and Craig Steltz would be the primary backups, meaning there’s a strong possibility the club looks to the later rounds to add training-camp competition for those spots.

ESPNChicago's positional breakdowns

DT | OT | G | C | DE | RB | WR | QB | TE | S | LB | CB | K/P

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Chicago Bears general manager Jerry Angelo and Director of Player Personnel Tim Ruskell conducted a pre-draft press conference on Thursday at Halas Hall. Here were some of the highlights:

Angelo on North Carolina defensive tackle Marvin Austin: He's got documented concerns. We've delved into those. Lovie [Smith] and Rod [Marinelli] went down there and spent a goodly amount of time with him. Mark Sadowski our scout has spent a goodly amount of time with him. We feel real good about how we feel about him and knowing him."

Angelo on Mississippi State offensive tackle Derek Sherrod being compared to Chris Williams:"Similar in they are high quality people. You aren't going to get any dirt on Sherrod when you look for it. I always say we are in the dirt business, that's what we try to do first, to see what's underneath that hood. He's impeccable in terms of his citizenship, his work ethic, he's very intelligent. Physically, I'd say comparable in terms of intangibles, but Chris was a little better athlete in terms of his hip movement. Derek has longer arms in terms of his pass protection. Is there a big difference? We took Chris in the first half of the first round (No. 14), I don't think Derek is projected to go there.

Ruskell on draft differences between Bears and Seahawks organizations:"A lot of the things I incorporated in Seattle are things Jerry and I worked on in Tampa and maybe he got away from. I've taken them and went further with them, and some of them are things we re-instituted, things Jerry is familiar with in terms of the draft boards. There are no earth-shattering changes, but we've talked, and the best of both worlds is what it's felt like. It's felt good to the scouts, it's felt good to the coaches in terms of the way we went about our business. Everyone got their say and the work was thorough. No matter how you get to that point, that's the goal."

Angelo on working relationship with Ruskell:"We had a sign in the draft room [in Tampa] for all of us to look at it. It said, 'If everybody is thinking alike, there isn't much thinking going on.' So the goal isn't to get people to patronize your thinking. The goal is to stimulate your thinking. Get honest opinions, independent thinking, obviously based on research. We're not poll takers."

Angelo on how much the Bears weight character picking at No. 29: "We're not looking for best friends or neighbors. We're looking for guys who get it and come in here with good attitudes, good work ethics and are very passionate about football. If they have those things in common, I can personally get along with them. Particularly if they have talent."

Angelo on 2011 class of linebackers: "The 3-4 teams are helping us with our linebackers. Probably the guys we like are not even on half of the boards in the league. I think that will help us. I think there are more linebackers for us we can get later if we choose to go that direction. From my vantage point, [linebacker is] probably the most fertile position for us in the mid, to later to free agent rounds."

Angelo on Bears pursuit of a wide receiver: "We'd like to get the big receiver like everybody. So much has been made about the No. 1 receiver. It's hard to find a No. 1 receiver. We've looked at the position hard this year. I don't anticipate seeing anybody who's going to fit that definition. But we do like the receiver group given how they complement what we have. It's not a great group, but there are some players we feel could come in and help us."

Angelo on age concerns of Baylor OG Danny Watkins: "He'll be 27 in November. You look at the position, obviously players play into their 30s at that position. You can even say into their mid-30s and still play good football. I don't think it's a red flag."

Angelo on Bears wanting larger offensive linemen:"We've kind of shifted in that we want bigger people. We are looking for tackles that can play guard, rather than guard that can play center. I know coach [Mike] Tice and coach [Mike] Martz want bigger people. Staffs we had before weren't as committed to that thinking."

Angelo on quarterbacks: "It's not a luxury position. We want to develop our own."

Angelo on the Bears game versus the Buccaneers in London: "The good news is I can speak the language. So I'm looking for the positives right now, and that was the first one on my list."

ESPNChicago's positional breakdowns

DT | OT | G | C | DE | RB | WR | QB | TE | S | LB | CB | K/P

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- If recent history is any indication, Chicago Bears general manager Jerry Angelo won't hesitate to deal the club's first-round pick (No. 29) and move out of the first round of the 2011 NFL draft.

Read the entire story.

Greg Olsen proved in 2010 that tight ends aren’t merely an afterthought in the system brought in by offensive coordinator Mike Martz.

It’s true that Olsen’s 41 catches for 404 yards represented the second-lowest output of his four-year career in those categories. But the tight end was able to move into second in the franchise’s annals for career receiving touchdowns (20) at the position, sparking discussion among the Bears’ brass about an expanded role for 2011.

Given the team’s plans for Olsen, Brandon Manumaleuna's role as a blocker, and the emergence of rising fourth-year player Kellen Davis, it’s safe to say the Bears won’t look to add a tight end in the NFL draft. But it doesn’t hurt to look at what’s out there.

So here are the top 20 prospects at tight end and when they’re projected to be taken:

The next 10: 11. Daniel Hardy, Idaho, 6-4, 249; 12. Schuylar Oordt, Northern Iowa, 6-6, 261; 13. Wesleye Saunders, South Carolina, 6-5, 267; 14. Zack Pianalto, North Carolina, 6-3, 256; 15. Mike McNiel, Nebraska, 6-4, 231; 16. Kyle Adams, Purdue, 6-5, 257; 17. Charlie Gantt, Michigan State, 6-4, 252; 18. Cameron Graham, Louisville, 6-3, 244; 19. Collin Franklin, Iowa State, 6-6, 256; 20. Stephen Skelton, Fordham, 6-5, 252.

Position grade: D-

Analysis: Comments made by Bears coach Lovie Smith about the current state of the tight end position at the NFL owners meetings last month indicate the team won’t look to add to the group through the draft.

Smith and general manager Jerry Angelo said the Bears would like to find more ways to involve the Olsen and Davis without disrupting ball distribution to other playmakers. Manumaleuna will likely return to his predominant role next season as a blocking tight end.

“Greg improved his game last year as a blocker, which he set out to do. I was pleased with what Kellen Davis was able to do,” Smith said. “You could make the case for Kellen getting more plays, being more involved also. You look at the numbers, and [the public] want[s] the tight end to catch 100 balls. We have too many options on the offensive side of the ball for our tight ends to have those kinds of numbers. But you can still be a big part of the offense, which Greg and Kellen are.”

ESPNChicago's positional breakdowns

DT | OT | G | C | DE | RB | WR | QB | TE | S | LB | CB | K/P

Chicago Bears backup running back Chester Taylor took criticism in 2010 for what appeared to be a subpar season, statistically.

Averaging 2.4 yards per carry, Taylor scored three touchdowns last season and managed just 43 yards in his best performance of the season (Oct. 10 at Carolina) as a complement to starter Matt Forte, who in 2010 became the first player in franchise history to gain at least 1,400 yards from scrimmage in each of his first three seasons.

Still, Taylor's sparse production in 2010 likely won't trigger the team's brass next week to search for the running back's replacement in the NFL draft.

“We brought in Chester to be a complement to Matt, which he was,” Bears coach Lovie Smith said. “As Matt really took off, Chester was the perfect team player. Those two guys, first off, get along; they're friends. Chester accepted his role of being ready. Some games, we need him more than others. We tried to give him a role on some of the short yardage, some of those things. I know the numbers weren't there, but Matt's numbers were up. You're just looking for the running back position's numbers to go up, which they did.”

Here's a look at the top 20 prospects at running back, and what rounds they're projected to be selected:

The next 10: 11. Taiwan Jones, Eastern Washington, 6-0, 196; 12. Dion Lewis, Pittsburgh, 5-7, 193; 13. Jamie Harper, Clemson, 5-11, 233; 14. Roy Helu, Nebraska, 6-0, 219; 15. Alex Green, Hawaii, 6-0, 225; 16. Darren Evans, Virginia Tech, 6-0, 227; 17. Johnny White, North Carolina, 5-10, 209; 18. Bilal Powell, Louisville, 5-11, 207; 19. Stevan Ridley, LSU, 5-11, 225; 20. Derrick Locke, Kentucky, 5-8, 188; 18.

Position grade: B-

Analysis: The Bears likely won't be looking to add to their backfield in the draft considering they've already got Forte and Taylor, in addition to Harvey Unga, who was selected in the 2010 supplemental draft.

The Bears hope to sign Forte to an extension once a new collective bargaining agreement is in place, and the team indicates Taylor will continue his role in 2011 as the primary backup. The club is also optimistic about finding a role for Unga, who might have to carve a niche on special teams to stick.

Because of needs along the offensive and defensive lines as well as receiver and linebacker, the Bears probably won't actively pursue the running back position in the draft. But if a talented prospect falls into the club's lap late, it might be compelled to add competition to an already crowded backfield.

ESPNChicago's positional breakdowns

DT | OT | G | C | DE | RB | WR | QB | TE | S | LB | CB | K/P