ESPN's Kiper Gives His Opinion on Chicago Bears' Draft Needs

ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. is making a lot of money for stating the obvious. He says that in the upcoming draft the Chicago Bears should take their first two draft picks and get offensive linemen or one offensive lineman and a defensive tackle. Even I can make comments with that much value.

Larry Mayer has posted an article at the Chicago Bears' website titled "Kiper convinced offensive line is Bears' No. 1 draft need." And the offensive line should be the Bears main concern. However, I'm not so sure it's for the reason(s) many fans think.

Certainly we all saw what happened in the 2010 season. Jay Cutler took a beating. The first half of the season was ridiculous. Cutler spent more time on the ground than throwing passes. The second half of the season was much better, but the Bears are not smart if they leave it there. The offensive line is still, for the most part, young.

The Bears have another problem with the offensive line and that is Olin Kreutz. Kreutz is a great player (except for his penchant for clobbering other people) and he is getting up there in age. The center position is a very important one. It isn't learned overnight, so the Bears should be looking for his replacement.

Other positions Kiper feels the Bears should be seeking include defensive tackle, cornerback, outside linebacker and wide receiver.

The Bears can always use help in the secondary. I would widen the approach to the line-backing corps to include all linebacker positions. Everybody is aging back there and unless the Bears' plans are very "short-term minded," that is an area they should consider outside and middle backers; Urlacher is a player who sooner or later will have to be replaced.

The only position I disagree with Kiper about is wide receiver. I think the Bears have plenty of good wide receivers. They don't get the respect they should. If Cutler gets time to throw, they will blossom -- it is about timing.

Kiper has hit the nail on the head about the offensive line, not that it was any kind of a mystery.

We'll see how the Bears do; we'll see what they think.

Reference:

Chicago Bears' Website, Larry Mayer, "Kiper convinced offensive line is Bears' No. 1 draft need."