dawhizz

As one of the guys banging the drum for WR help in the draft, this addresses my concerns. Another in a line of nice low cost moves with potential - Morgan was really good a couple years ago. Let's hope he regains his form.

BPA, within reason. However, Emery hasn't seemed to gone along with what most would consider BPA, although all the talk after the draft is "this guy was at the top of our board." I'm really hoping the near-disasterous 2012 draft has taught him maybe not to trust his scouts so much, or whoever convinced him to reach for all those guys. The more I look at this draft the weirder it is because I feel like there's only three logical choices for the 1st round pick: Donald, Clinton-Dix, and Pryor (and for the record, I would be fine with any of the three). In fact, besides maybe Fuller and Nix, those are the only projeted first round picks I've seen the Bears linked to (http://walterfootball.com/draft2014meetingsteams.php). And yet, McClellin and Long were both big suprises the last two years, so I keep trying to figure out if there's someone who could surprise this year. Bucannon? Hageman? Bottom line, I want to see us fill the holes in this roster with value picks. Because the sad truth is, Kyle Long is the only one of Emery's reaches to pan out, and his other good draft picks (Jeffery, Mills, Paea to an extent) were picked at or behind where they were expected to be picked, whereas guys like Hardin, Conte, and McClellin looked like reaches when they were drafted and don't look to be changing that opinion anytime soon.

Anyone else think, despite the admitted need to focus on defense in the draft, we should nab a WR in the middle rounds? Certainly Marshall and Jeffery are great, but there's nothing but question marks behind him. At least with Earl Bennett, you knew what you were getting. Depth right now is: - Wilson, a thin and injury prone 2nd year 7th round pick with 2 career catches - Hixon, a journeyman who is at least two year removed from a year when he had any kind of impact as a WR - Weems, who had little impact as a WR and was already asked to take a paycut - Williams, a 5'8" return specialist - Bellamy and Tolliver, who have done nothing in this leage I really want a DT and S in the first two picks, and while I would lean CB or LB in the 3rd, if a quality guy like Moncrief or Landry is sitting there in the 3rd, I might pull the trigger, and I'd like to see WR address somewhere in the rounds 3-5. Thoughts?

I preferred the old way. I liked just blocking out my weekend for the draft. I travel for work, so I may have to watch the first round in whothehellknows or even miss it because I'm catching a plane.

E-mail is down at work, so all I have is the internet and twitter to keep me company.

He had a pretty significant role last year as a 3rd tackle. Chicago Bears ‏@ChicagoBears ·4m LM: #Bears have retained veteran OL Eben Britton, who has agreed to a 1-year contract.

S Deone Bucannon visiting as well. http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/bears/post...on-visits-bears

Worth noting that the Bears tend to bring in local(ish) players on visits because I think it doesn't count toward whatever limits there are on the number of prospect visits a team can have- maybe I'm remembering that wrong, but I think that's right. I can't remember any who were drafted since Garrett Wolfe.

Mine: 1) Aaron Donald, DT, Pitt - Really like Donald and don't really like many other DT prospects. Completes the transformation of the Bears' line. **trade down in 2nd, pick up a 3rd** 2) Deone Buccannon, S, Washington State - Has the smarts and size to push to start immediately 3) Donte Moncrief, WR, Ole Miss - Seems crazy, I know. Part of it is that I love Moncrief, who looks like Alshon 2.0 and isnt' getting nearly the attention he should. But I'd like some insurance behind Wilson and Hixon in case there's an injury to the WR corps. 4a) Arthur Lynch, TE, Georgia - Not much depth behind Bennett and Lynch's blocking can be a real asset. 4b) Rashaad Reynolds, CB, Oregon State - Wish he was bigger, but good cover skills to press for PT. 5) Tyler Larsen, C, Utah State - Time to start planning for life after Garza 6a) De'Anthony Thomas, RB, Oregon - I just want to see what Trestman could do with him in the backfield, in the slot, wildcat, whatever. 6b) Jonathan Brown, LB, Illinois - After spending two relatively high picks on LB last year, I'd like to see how they progress before spending another high pick on a LB, but Brown is a nice versatile LB to have on the roster.

Interseting wrinkle brought up by the guys on the Score today - I wonder how this affects the likelihood of the Bears being on Hard Knocks this season. Allen is the kind of personality that would likely be a draw for that show who is changing teams within the division, Chicago is a big market, and there are plenty of other storylines (Cutler/Cavalleri/shots, McLellin's position change, other big personalities in Bennett and Marshall, etc.). As has been noted elsewhere, the Bears are one of eight teams the NFL can force to do Hard Knocks if they want.

I'm thinking Allen and Houston are the starters, with Young swapping out for Allen regularly and Houston kicking inside with Allen and Young on the ends on third down/obvious passing downs. Good problem to have.

3 years, $9 million. http://www.thefalcoholic.com/2014/3/21/553...falcons-in-2014

You want to pay Hester $3 million per year to be your 5th WR? Cause I don't. Wilson and Hixon both have the speed to contribute in those run plays and I imagine we'll see a late round WR drafted too (I'd love to see them take a flier on Jeremy Gallon, who is a small WR who never seemed to play small). Hester doesn't offer hands or height and I don't even think he's as fast as he used to be.

I feel like he could be getting the Corey Graham treatment - good special teamer who isn't getting a fair shot at CB for the Bears. Hope he at least gets a shot for PT.

He gone, I imagine, unless his market completely dries up.

They also seem to like Chris Williams, the WR who used to play in the CFL , as a return man.

Just heard this on the Score. Really good news in that it allows us to address CB in the draft early without pressing a rookie into starting service right away (which rarely goes well).

I would say at this moment (without Tillman) CB is a bigger need than S. I don't love Mundy or Jennings, but both are at least potential starters, whereas I don't think Hayden or Frey qualify as that. If the Bears do anything with their remaining money, I'd love to see Melton back and a starting-caliber CB (Munnerlyn, DMC, Tillman). Agree that DT is the other need.

Signed. Rich Campbell ‏@Rich_Campbell ·6m Bears announce 1-yr deal with WR Domenik Hixon. Special teams contributor. On a related note, Eric Weems is under contract for 2014.

The fact that they are introducing Mundy at the press conference today suggests to me that they view him as a starter.

I'd prefer a slot/speed guy. Would live to see Lance Moore or Santonuo Holmes, who could really benefit from a change of scenery and legit QB, IMO.

Special Teams captain for Panthers. Looks like this year's Blake Costanzo who we hope never has to take defensive snaps.

At 6'3" 300, he sounds more like a Melton replacement than a DE replacement.

I'd rather have Brandon Merriweather back there than these two.

My sense is that Hardin is on the bubble, but it's not like other safeties have been particularly impressive. I mean Wright and Conte are the clear starters, Steltz probably sticks. Zbikowski hasn't been impressive. Neither has Tom Nelson. I think they like Anthony Walters, but he can probably be put on the practice squad. Unless we add someone who gets cut from another squad, Hardin has as much upside as anybody. I'd like to see him stick around, though I admit I haven't seen much from him.