Chicago Bears Select Shane Ray in Latest Mock Draft

Sep 27, 2014; Columbia, SC, USA; Missouri Tigers defensive lineman Shane Ray (56) gives chase to South Carolina Gamecocks running back Mike Davis (28) during the first quarter at Williams-Brice Stadium. Missouri wins in the final minutes 21-20 over South Carolina. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

We’re full speed ahead in Mock Draft season as the Senior Bowl later today. It looks like the Chicago Bears will have a major rebuilding effort on the defensive side of the ball while Vic Fangio and John Fox re-shape the defense.

It’s very likely that the Bears will be shift from the base 4-3 defense we’ve seen our entire lifetimes to a 3-4 base defense. The personnel is quite different in a 3-4, but regardless, the Bears just need more talent, especially on defense. Our own NFL Mocks put together a mock draft and they make an interesting selection for the Chicago Bears, Mizzou DE Shane Ray.

"7. SHANE RAYDefensive End, Missouri"

"The Bears basically need to start from scratch defensively, and getting one of the SECs best pass rushers is not a bad place to do so. Even with the additions made of LaMarr Houston and Jared Allen, the Bears struggled on the defensive front to generate consistent pressure."

More from Bear Goggles On

There’s no doubt that the Bears have a big need for a pass rusher. Despite a nice season, Willie Young is recovering from a torn Achilles. Lamarr Houston, who could project in a 3-4 defense as a 5-technique defensive end, will also be coming off a major injury, a torn ACL. Jared Allen doesn’t seem to be a fit well in a 3-4 scheme and after a rough 2014 and a high price tag in 2015, he could be moving on.

Next: Learn More about Vic Fangio's Defensive Scheme

Ray could be an impact player the Bears will need to build their defense around. The 6’3″, 245 lb DE/OLB is a lightning fast edge rusher, clocked in the 4.4 range with a 40″ vertical leap yet can bench over 400 lbs. The knock on Ray is that he relies on that athleticism a bit too much and is still raw in developing some pass rushing moves. He’s also struggled against the run at times, having trouble getting off blocks. But it’s hard to argue with the choice of a guy with 14.5 sacks last season for a Bears team in desperate need of rushing the quarterback.

What do you think of the choice? Do you agree in getting an edge rusher? Should the Bears look to bolster their safety position instead? Should they get a big nose tackle to anchor the defensive line?

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