Reader’s Mock Draft: Chicago Bears are On the Clock

April 26, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; General manager Phil Emery during a Chicago Bears press conference announcing their first-round selection of guard

from Oregon University at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Reid Compton-USA TODAY Sports

The NFL draft will be here before we know it.  Now that Free Agency has settled down, team needs have come into focus.  That could mean only one thing – it’s time for another mock draft!  But rather than us sitting back and throwing darts at the wall, we thought we’d let you join in the fun.  We’ll roll through the draft order and give each team choices based on team needs and the best players available and you’ll vote on the picks for each team. On with the countdown…

14. Chicago Bears (8-8)

Ah, finally the Bears are up in our Reader’s Mock Draft.  We’ve trudged through the first 13 picks and carefully crafted the draft to make sure that the player(s) we want are available when the pick comes to us.  Kidding!

The Bears have been among the busiest teams in the league this offseason with some 30-some signings since the last week of the 2013 season, but the most important part of their offseason is arguably still in front of them – the draft.  Phil Emery vowed the Bears would get younger on defense and based on the re-signings and new free agent acquisitions, that hasn’t been the case.  This is the price of poker after years of questionable signings and poor draft day decisions from the past regime.

If Emery has shown us anything, it’s to expect the unexpected on draft day.  I can’t think of too many experts picking Shea McClellin and Kyle Long in mocks leading up to their respective drafts.  It’s been boom or bust with Emery so far on draft day.  For every Kyle Long and Alshon Jeffery, you have a Brandon Hardin, an Evan Rodriguez or Shea McClellin.

The Bears have done pretty well in the offseason, but there is still a lot of work left to be done.