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As the offensive players broke for individual drills Tuesday at the Walter Payton Center on Day 1 of voluntary minicamp, Devin Hester stood on the sideline swinging his helmet alongside long snapper Pat Mannelly, kicker Robbie Gould and punter Adam Podlesh.

For right now, Hester can no longer call himself a Chicago Bears receiver. He's fine with that. So are the Bears.

“I'll make it clear because I've been asked a number of times," new Bears coach Marc Trestman said. “Devin's gonna focus on being our returner. He's got to be the returner for him to be here. Once that's locked into place, which we expect that it will, then we'll see where it goes from there."

Asked at the NFL owners meetings in March whether Hester would practice with as a receiver during the offseason, Trestman expressed uncertainty, saying the matter hadn't yet been fully discussed. The coach left little doubt Tuesday about Hester's expected role.

Since the start of the 2011 season, Hester has caught 49 passes for 611 yards and two touchdown with the team looking for ways to give him more of a role on offense. Hester returned 40 punts last season for an 8.3-yard average, but didn't score a touchdown and also failed to find the end zone on any of his 24 kickoff returns in 2012.

The Bears hold a 13-4 record when Hester scores on a return.

“We made a collective decision organizationally. I've talked to the guys that have been here. (General manager) Phil (Emery) and I had a long conversation about it as well," Trestman said. “Just talking to Devin (I want to) let him get back to doing what he does best first. Then when that's all in place, we'll see if we need to or if we're in a position to be able to incorporate him in doing more things."

Set to earn $1.857 million in the final year of his contract, Hester isn't spending time in the meeting rooms with his fellow receivers, and he isn't learning the new offense. Instead, as a specialist, that's where he's spending all his time: with special-teams coach Joe DeCamillis.

“He'll spend all his time with Joe," Trestman said. “When we're in an offensive meeting, he'll be with Joe. He'll be with (long snapper) Pat. He'll be with Robbie and the kickers. He'll be spending time totally focused in on being the best returner in the National Football League."

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Chicago Bears head coach Marc Trestman said on Tuesday he believes third-year offensive lineman Gabe Carimi is better suited to compete for a starting job at guard, not at right tackle, where it was presumed the former 2010 first round pick would also battle J'Marcus Webb and Jonathan Scott for playing time.

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LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Entering the final year of his contract, Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler watched the monstrous amounts of money being tossed to players at his position this offseason, and joked "it doesn't make me mad."

But in assessing his own situation, Cutler knows the deal.

"You've got to win games to earn those contracts," he said Tuesday, just minutes after the club's first voluntary minicamp at the Walter Payton Center. "There are some big numbers being thrown out there. You can't get ahead of yourself. I'm in my last year obviously. I'm sure everyone knows that. So we'll play it out and see how it goes."

Set to earn $8.47 million in 2013, Cutler enters the offseason with his fourth offensive coordinator in five years in Aaron Kromer since joining the Bears in 2009 through a trade with the Denver Broncos. Despite playing just four seasons with the Bears, Cutler leads the franchise in passer rating (81.9), and completions (1,034) and ranks second in touchdown passes (82), passing yards (12,292) and completion percentage (59.6).

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LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Chicago Bears general manager Phil Emery said Tuesday he "absolutely" had no regrets over how the club handled the negotiations with linebacker Brian Urlacher, who became a free agent after the team ceased contract talks on March 20.

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LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- The Chicago Bears' injury report consisted of just two names on the club's first day of voluntary minicamp: wide receiver Brandon Marshall (hip) and kicker Robbie Gould (calf).

Marshall underwent minor hip surgery following the 2012 regular season to try and correct an issue that lingered for much of the regular season. While there is no timetable for this return, Marshall spent a good chunk of his offseason rehabbing the injury in South Florida with teammates Alshon Jeffery and Evan Rodriguez before the trio returned to Chicago for the beginning of the Bears' offseason program on April 2.

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ESPNChicago.com continues its daily Bears draft preview with a look at the receivers.

The Chicago Bears lost any semblance of a speed element for their 2013 offense at receiver when Johnny Knox was forced to retire, and the club decided Devin Hester should focus on returns.

So it's reasonable to expect an infusion of speed into the receiving corps for what could be a dynamic offense in 2013, provided the club finds an explosive target in the draft to complement Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery. Still, general manager Phil Emery stressed that speed isn't necessarily the determining factor in any decision the team plans to make at that position.

"Anytime you lose a player (Knox) of that quality and that kind of speed, it does impact you," Emery said. "We'll look at all avenues in terms of finding somebody that can add to that mix of wide receivers. I would say specifically (the goal is) to find the best player that can help us (regardless of speed)."

The Bears are believed to be interested in Texas A&M's Ryan Swope (161 catches for 2,120 yards and 19 touchdowns over his last two seasons), who possesses 4.3 speed in the 40-yard dash to go with a concerning history of concussions. Emery attended Texas A&M's 29-24 upset victory at Alabama in which Swope caught 11 passes for 111 yards and a touchdown.

Tyrone Goard of Eastern Kentucky could also draw interest from the Bears, which met with him formally at the East-West Shrine game. Projected to be a late-round pick, Goard, possesses the ability to stretch the field but like Swope, has suffered concussions. The Bears have also shown some interest in projected late-round pick Eric Rogers of Cal Lutheran.

The club was present at Rogers' Pro Day on March 11.

The next 10: 11. Aaron Dobson, Marshall, 6-3, 210; 12. Markus Wheaton, Oregon State, 5-11, 189; 13. Da'Rick Rogers, Tennessee Tech, 6-2, 217; 14. Josh Boyce, Texas Christian, 5-11, 206; 15. Ryan Swope, Texas A&M, 6-0, 205; 16. Denard Robinson, Michigan, 5-10, 199; 17. Marquise Goodwin, Texas, 5-9, 183; 18. Tavarres King, Georgia, 6-0, 189; 19. Aaron Mellette, Elon, 6-2, 217; 20. Kenny Stills, Oklahoma, 6-0, 194.

Position grade: B

Analysis: The one-two punch of Marshall and Jeffery should be deadly in the new offense of coach Marc Trestman provided the latter can stay healthy. Jeffery produced an impressive NFL debut (three catches, 80 yards and a touchdown), but missed six games because of injuries. With Hester likely out of the picture in the slot, the club's options there include Earl Bennett and Eric Weems. Bennett possesses dynamic run-after-catch ability and chemistry with quarterback Jay Cutler, but injuries have hampered his production over the last two seasons.

What the club lacks in the receiving corps at this point is a speed element that would draw off some of the extra coverage that Marshall sees on an every-game basis. By adding a speed receiver to play in the slot, the Bears can keep safeties honest, so to speak. The Bears fully expect to field an explosive offense under Trestman. Emery started that process with the acquisition of tight end Martellus Bennett, who will threaten defenses down the seams. A new slot receiver to go with Bennett could open things up for the entire offense. The question, however, is whether the team sees that as a need position considering some of the holes in the roster in other areas.

Let's review the timeline while we have a moment.

In January, general manager Phil Emery admits the Chicago Bears need to improve their mid-range passing game, an area often reserved for tight ends.

Hours after the free-agent market opens in March, the Bears sign veteran tight end Martellus Bennett to a four-year contract. Veteran Steve Maneri, meanwhile, signs a one-year contract.

As the April 25 draft approaches, a number of respected mock drafters -- including ESPN's Todd McShay and the Chicago Tribune's Dan Pompei -- predict the Bears will make Notre Dame tight end Tyler Eifert the No. 20 overall pick of the draft. Meanwhile, Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com reports the Bears have genuine interest in Stanford tight end Zach Ertz.

So what's going on here? Have the mock drafters forgotten about Bennett and Maneri? Do they really think the Bears would use one of their five draft picks to further stock the tight end position when more pressing short- and long-term needs exist at other positions?

Here's what I can tell you: The Bears aren't just working back from a deficit at the position. Statistically speaking, at least, they had one of the worst tight end situations in the NFL last season. As the chart shows, Bears tight ends had the NFL's lowest production in terms of receptions. Only two teams targeted their tight ends fewer times than the Bears.

Can Bennett alone spark a turnaround? (Maneri is generally considered a blocking tight end.) That might be a lot of pressure to put on one player who has caught more than 20 passes in only two of his five seasons. And it's worth noting that Bennett's contract, ostensibly worth $20.4 million, is probably better viewed as a one-year deal worth $5.315 million. Bennett's 2014 salary includes $4 million guaranteed for injury only, which means the Bears could release him if he is healthy after the 2013 season without owing him more money. (It will be guaranteed for skill as well as injury if he is on the roster on the third day of the 2014 league year.)

I don't think you could argue that tight end is the Bears' top need entering the draft. On the other hand, everything must be viewed in context. The Bears' pick at No. 20 overall puts them in good position to select the best tight end in the draft. Indeed, over the past 10 drafts, 10 tight ends have been selected in the first round. Only two, Vernon Davis in 2006 and Kellen Winslow in 2004, were selected higher than No. 20.

Pass-catching tight ends are a requirement in modern-day NFL offenses, and last year the Bears didn't have one. If they are serious about making it a strength of their offense, perhaps they do need more than one.

ESPNChicago.com continues its daily Bears draft preview series with a look at the tight ends.

The acquisition of veteran Martellus Bennett in free agency should have alleviated the need to add a tight end in the upcoming draft, but apparently the Chicago Bears might not stop there, judging from their interest in Stanford's Zach Ertz.

According to sources, the team is genuinely interested in Ertz as a second tight end. So, if there's interest in Ertz from the Bears, the club is surely also eyeing the draft's top prospect: Tyler Eifert of Notre Dame.

"Obviously, you see the Patriots with the two tight ends and how they utilize that," Eifert said. "An offense like that would be beneficial to me personally. I'm lucky to be coming in at a time where the type of tight end that I am is being used quite a bit in the passing game, but (I'm) also a guy that can stay in the game on every down and can also block (and) create matchup problems in the passing game."

With the roles of tight ends expanding around the NFL, and many teams utilizing more two tight end formations to exploit matchups in passing and running situations, it makes sense the Bears would consider adding another vertical threat to the equation. But would the Bears do that at the peril of not filling other perceived needs at linebacker, defensive tackle and along the offensive line?

It's a possibility, given the emphasis of the team to add an impact player, regardless of position.

"Last year we were in a very similar spot, and we had about seven players on the board that we felt good about, and we took one of them. I'm assuming now working through this process that that number will probably be seven to 10 that we feel good about," Bears general manager Phil Emery said. "We'll find the best player that can help us win now; the one that has the biggest impact now."

The next 10: 11. Joseph Fauria, UCLA, 6-7, 259; 12. Matt Furstenburg, Maryland, 6-3, 242; 13. Nick Kasa, Colorado, 6-6, 269; 14. Jake Stoneburger, Ohio State, 6-3, 252; 15. Mychal Rivera, Tennessee, 6-3, 242; 16. MarQueis Gray, Minnesota, 6-3, 240; 17. Kyle Juszczyk, Harvard, 6-1, 248; 18. Jack Doyle, Western Kentucky, 6-5, 254; 19. Justice Cunningham, South Carolina, 6-2, 258; 20. D.C. Jefferson, Rutgers, 6-6, 255.

Position grade: C+

Analysis: Bennett's presence makes it less likely the Bears will use their first-round pick on a tight end, but Emery hasn't built a long enough track record to indicate whether he'll go against the conventional thought of adding a player at a position of need. New Bears tight ends coach Andy Bischoff has been vocal about the changing nature of the tight end position, and the need for the club to add a dynamic player at the position that can exploit defenses all over the field. Eifert and Ertz possess those qualities. Certainly, the Bears will be in the position at 20 to draft one of them. The club could also explore the possibility of moving back to a position late in the first round or early second, where they could still land a player such as Ertz. According to sources, at least one tight end is among the seven to 10 prospects the club is considering with its first-round selection.

ESPNChicago.com continues its daily Bears draft preview series with a look at the centers.

The Chicago Bears brought in California center Brian Schwenke on Wednesday for a pre-draft visit, lending credence to the notion the club plans to at least explore the option of adding the eventual successor to veteran Roberto Garza in the draft.

Projected to be a second- or third-round selection, Schwenke (6-foot-3, 314 pounds) is widely considered to be the No. 2 prospect at the position behind Wisconsin's Travis Frederick. Schwenke projects perhaps as the better option for the Bears because of his versatility. At California, Schwenke started his career at guard, where he started 24 games from 2010-11, before shifting to center in 2012, a position in which he earned first-team all-Pac 12 recognition.

At the Senior Bowl, Schwenke played all three inside offensive line positions during the week leading into the game, and his stock rose, according to several scouts in attendance.

"That's what people are saying," Schwenke said at the NFL combine. "I don't really pay attention to what people are saying often. But my agent and everybody's saying that it was a good experience for me, and it did me well. I just played my game. I don't know what (the scouts) saw in me that they didn't see in the season. But I just played how I normally play, and had fun doing it."

With Garza entering the final year of his deal, which will pay $1.75 million in 2013, the Bears know it's time to start looking for the veteran's heir apparent. But the Bears won't invest in the position with a first-round pick, and the club doesn't have a third-rounder because of the trade for receiver Brandon Marshall.

It's unlikely a rookie would unseat Garza in 2013, but the team could knock out two needs with one selection with a player such as Schwenke. First, the club would obviously add Garza's eventual replacement. At the same time, the addition would beef up the competition for one of the starting guard positions, where Gabe Carimi, James Brown, and Williams are competing for the spots opposite the recently-acquired Matt Slauson.

The next 10: 11. Dalton Freeman, Clemson, 6-4, 286; 12. Mario Benavides, Louisville, 6-2, 279; 13. James Ferentz, Iowa, 6-1, 289; 14. Mike Golic, Notre Dame, 6-4, 294; 15. Sam Schwartzstein, Stanford, 6-2, 290; 16. Matt Smith, Kentucky, 6-4, 295; 17. Eric Kush, California (Pa.), 6-4, 304; 18. Kyle Quinn, Arizona, 6-3, 288; 19. Ryan Turnley, Pittsburgh, 6-5, 310; 20. Skyler Allen, Ohio, 6-2, 286.

Position grade: B

Analysis: Garza enters the final year of his contract, and with him just turning 34, it's likely the Bears think it's now time to start looking toward the future at the position. The team recently signed Taylor Boggs, who signed with the New York Jets in 2011 as an undrafted free agent, but hasn't yet played in an NFL game. At this point, he appears to be more of a developmental prospect than a potential contributor in 2013. Outside of Garza and Boggs, the only other option on the roster at the position is veteran Edwin Williams, who is listed as a guard/center, but has never logged a start at center. So it's safe to say the Bears are eyeing the position in the draft perhaps in the second round or later. Look for the team to try to add a center of the future in this year's draft.

Jeff Dickerson enters the Bears chat room at 2 CT.

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CHICAGO -- Former University of Missouri outside linebacker Zaviar Gooden is scheduled to visit the Chicago Bears on Monday, according to a league source.

Gooden tested well at the NFL Combine where he ran the fastest 40-yard dash (4.47) among linebackers and is projected to be a third-round or fourth-round pick by several draft analysts.

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ESPNChicago.com continues its daily Bears draft preview series with a look at the guards.

Adding at offensive tackle increased the number of candidates for one of the starting guard positions, and the acquisition of former New York Jets veteran Matt Slausen solidifies at least one side of the line at guard.

Still, there's a good chance the Bears could explore adding another player to at least compete for a starting job, and there appears to be no shortage of talented candidates available in this year's NFL draft. Issues at offensive tackle in recent years have garnered the most publicity, but the loss of three players (Chilo Rachal, Lance Louis and Chris Spencer) that combined for 24 starts in 2012 leaves little left in the cupboard at the position.

"What you want in an offensive lineman No. 1 is production," Bears general manager Phil Emery said in February. "You want guys that produce consistently, and you call those guys starters. You're looking for guys that have the size, mass, strength and quickness to accomplish that at the NFL level."

The loser in the battle for the starting job at right tackle between J'Marcus Webb, Gabe Carimi and Jonathan Scott could add at least one more candidate to the mix for one of the guard spots. But it's likely the Bears will add at least one player at guard to increase the competition at the position.

According to a source, the club held a private workout with former Valdosta State standout right guard Edmund Kugbila, who moved to the states from Ghana in 2000. Kugbila graded out at 93.8 percent last season in 14 starts, and didn't give up a single sack in helping his school win the Division II national championship.

Projected as a fourth- or fifth-round pick, Kugbila will need to make the adjustment from blocking out of a two-point stance in Valdosta State's spread attack, to working out of a three-point stance in the NFL. There are also concerns about Kugbila's history of concussions.


The next 10: 11. Alvin Bailey, Arkansas, 6-3, 310; 12. Earl Watford, James Madison, 6-3, 300; 13. Travis Bond, North Carolina, 6-6, 329; 14. J.C. Tretter, Cornell, 6-5, 307; 15. Garrett Gilkey, Chadron State, 6-6, 318; 16. Chris Barker, Nevada, 6-2, 305; 17. Edmund Kugbila, Valdosta State, 6-4, 217; 18. Stephane Milhim, Massachusetts, 6-4, 314; 19. Ryan Seymour, Vanderbilt, 6-4, 297; 20. Oscar Johnson, Louisiana Tech, 6-5, 331.

Position grade: B+

Analysis: Offensive tackle gets the most publicity, but guard appears at this point to be the most concerning position on the offensive line going into the 2013 season. The addition of Slausen should solidify one of the starting spots. But of the six players to start games at the guard positions for the Bears last season, just three -- Edwin Williams, James Brown, and Carimi -- will be back this season. Of those three, Brown, an undrafted rookie in 2012, started the most games (three) last season. While promising at times he didn't exactly inspire faith that he could be the long-term solution at one of the guard spots.

The team's most consistent player at guard in 2012, Louis bolted for the Miami Dolphins in free agency. Rachal, who started eight games at left guard last season, recently signed with the Arizona Cardinals. Veteran Chris Spencer, who started five games at both guard positions in 2012, signed with the Tennessee Titans. So look for the Bears to give guard some attention at some point during the draft. New offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer has shown a knack for developing lesser known talent along the offensive line.

Almost 50 players worked out of the Chicago Bears on Friday as part of the club's annual local Pro Day.

Included in the group was former Northern Illinois cornerback Rashaan Melvin, who is expected to make the rounds to 10 NFL teams, either with an official visit or private workouts, before the league prohibits teams from hosting draft eligible players after Wednesday.

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ESPNChicago.com kicks off its Bears draft preview series with a look at the offensive tackles.

By their actions, the Chicago Bears changed the team's rhetoric going into this year's draft from the tune it sang headed into 2012 under former coach Lovie Smith.

In the months preceding the 2012 draft, the Bears opted against bringing in a left tackle during free agency.

"That would be saying we don't feel comfortable with our left tackle," Smith said at the time.

The new coaching regime, under Marc Trestman apparently, doesn't care about sending the wrong message. The club made that clear in March, when it signed former New Orleans Saints offensive tackle Jermon Bushrod to the richest contract in team history (five years, $35.9 million with $17.7 million guaranteed) for an offensive lineman. The deal forces former starting left tackle J'Marcus Webb into a situation in which he'll compete for a starting job on the right side against Gabe Carimi and Jonathan Scott. At the time of the Bushrod acquisition, general manager Phil Emery said the move gave the team flexibility for the upcoming draft.

But that doesn't guarantee the Bears won't feel the need to add at tackle, a position which has woefully underachieved in recent years, culminating in Jay Cutler absorbing an average of 37 sacks in four seasons at the helm; 20 more than the average during his first three years prior to landing in Chicago.

"The offensive line class has strength in the front end when you look at it from tackle, guard and center," Emery said. "There are a number of players who could be in the mix as starters."

If one of those prospects falls into the club's lap at 20, chances are it pounces given the premium the Bears seem to be placing on adequately protecting Cutler.

According to sources, the Bears have already brought in or scheduled pre-draft visits with mainly offensive linemen and linebackers. While it's unclear whether the team plans to add yet another tackle to the mix, it's worth noting that Webb and Scott's contracts expire in 2013, while Carimi -- who could be in for a fight just to make the team, and is set to earn $1.016 million this season -- comes up on the end of his deal in 2014.

The next 10: 11. Jordan Mills, Louisiana Tech, 6-5, 316; 12. David Quessenberry, San Jose State, 6-5, 302; 13. Reid Fragel, Ohio State, 6-6, 308; 14. Tanner Hawkinson, Kansas, 6-5, 298; 15. Emmett Cleary, Boston College, 6-7, 316; 16. John Wetzel, 6-7, 315, Boston College; 17. Braden Brown, 6-5, 310, Brigham Young; 18. Nick Becton, 6-5, 323, Virginia Tech; 19. Vinston Painter, 6-4, 3-6, Virginia Tech; 20. Jamaal Johnson-Webb, 6-5, 313, Alabama A&M.

Position grade: B+

Analysis: The acquisition of Bushrod definitely strengthens the offensive line, by forcing Webb to compete for a job at right tackle. But none of the competitors on that side of the line have shown any consistency over a sustained period, which wouldn't make it a bad idea for the Bears to add even more competition at right tackle through the draft.

Webb and Scott are set to enter the final year of their contracts, while Carimi will make the largest base salary ($1.016 million) of his contract -- which runs through 2014 -- in 2013; making him a candidate to be cut if he doesn't perform. Several players capable of starting as rookies such as Alabama's D.J. Fluker, and Florida State's Menelik Watson could be available late in the first round. While it's unlikely the Bears draft an offensive tackle at No. 20, the talent expected to be still available there could prove too tempting to pass on.

Just days before the 2012 NFL draft, Chicago Bears general manager Phil Emery divulged the club was "working on a core of about seven players" as potential first-round targets.

While it's unclear what that number is for 2013, NFL sources count former Stanford tight end Zach Ertz among the group of players the Bears are focusing on, with one source saying he's "very much in play" to be the club's choice.

Considering the recent investment in veteran free agent Martellus Bennett (four years, $9.215 million guaranteed), and perceived needs in other areas, the interest in Ertz would seem somewhat peculiar. Still, a source said the Bears have "genuine interest (in Ertz) as a second tight end."

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