Midround NFL Draft Targets Who Could Start in Year 1 for the Chicago Bears
The mark of a good general manager and his scouting team is the ability to identify quality talent in the NFL draft and find starters in the midrounds. This is an area in which the Chicago Bears have not had much recent success.
GM Ryan Pace's first draft will be one to watch for sure. As he tries to rebuild this roster with an influx of young talent, Pace will have to make strong picks in the middle of the draft based on talent and team needs.
As it currently stands, the Bears don't have a pick in the fifth-round but they can always work their way back into the round if they see a guy they want.
Who are the players who can be drafted in the midrounds and start right away on this team? These five names are perfect examples of fits for the Bears in 2015.
South Carolina Offensive Tackle Corey Robinson
There's a high level of uncertainty at right tackle for the Bears going forward. Jordan Mills' poor health and inconsistent play last year should have the team going in a different direction.
It would be nice to see the team get back to running the football. To do that, you need as many nasty brawlers up-front as possible, and South Carolina's Corey Robinson fits the mold.
At 6'8'', 344 pounds, Robinson doesn't have the footwork to slow down speed pass-rushers. In the NFL, he will have to switch to the right side or else he will be eaten alive.
What Robinson does do well is run block. He also has some surprising athleticism for his size and would form a formidable team with right guard Kyle Long on that side of the football.
The Bears can target Robinson in the late-third- to fourth-round area.
Clemson Linebacker Stephone Anthony
New defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is going to want fast, athletic linebackers who can fly to the football in his scheme.
It still remains to be seen whether Fangio will run a 3-4 scheme, stick with the 4-3 or run a hybrid of both. Regardless of the scheme, you can never have too many solid linebackers.
Clemson's Stephone Anthony is a rock-solid defender. He has experience starting over the past three seasons and put together a good all-around effort last year with 73 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception.
Anthony would be a nice fit right next to current Bears linebacker Jon Bostic. Both players would be matchup nightmares for teams on the inside as they use their speed and freakish athletic ability to attack the ball.
Anthony should still be on the board in the third round but likely won't slip past the fifth.
Georgia Center David Andrews
Getting back to the running game all while getting younger up-front should be a theme for the Bears. Roberto Garza has had a solid 14 years of service in the NFL, but it's time for the Bears to go in a different direction.
Center is one of the positions in which you can find very good prospects in the midrounds. As teams focus more on the attention-grabbing positions, centers get left out there until the second day of the draft.
David Andrews from Georgia fits right into what the Bears need right now. He was the anchor of a team who opened up plenty of holes last year for running backs Todd Gurley and Nick Chubb.
Andrews is a solid fifth-round prospect who can step in and immediately impact the running game. He still has to work on his pass-blocking skills but has the talent and the intelligence to do so.
East Carolina Nose Tackle Terry Williams
Remember, head coach John Fox and Vic Fangio might want to go right into a 3-4 defense. Why wait? It wasn't like the Bears were very good last year in a 4-3 style so just blow it up and rebuild the whole thing.
The Bears are actually set at defensive end in a 3-4 already. Lamarr Houston is a better fit in that system and Ego Ferguson's size transitions perfectly opposite Houston.
As it stands, there is nobody to play nose tackle on the roster. The Bears could address that in free agency, but it's also wise to take a long look at an under-the-radar prospect.
At 6'1'', 353 pounds, East Carolina's Terry Williams is an absolute terror for interior offensive linemen to deal with. He had 29 tackles last year to go along with 7.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.
The season before, Williams missed eight games due to a suspension for violating team rules. That situation, coupled with the small school he played at, makes him a midround prospect as opposed to a second-round pick.
If the Bears see Williams still on the board in the fourth or fifth round, they should nab him right away. He has the ability to be a productive player in the NFL.
Kansas State Wide Receiver Tyler Lockett
Wide receivers Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery are terrific, but the Bears still lack a speedy vertical threat.
The Bears also don't have a reliable slot receiver and nobody to return kicks. Why not address all of these issues with one player with a midround pick?
Kansas State wide receiver Tyler Lockett is in the under 6' club so he wouldn't have gotten any love from former general manager Phil Emery. Thank goodness Ryan Pace is here and has a more open mind.
When down in New Orleans, Pace saw smaller slot receivers like Lance Moore, Brandin Cooks and Kenny Stills excel. They add so much speed, talent and versatility; it's great to pair them with the bigger guys.
As Marshall and Jeffery work the outside, Lockett would be great as a reliable underneath option for the Bears. He had 106 catches last year for over 1,500 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Lockett also averaged 21 yards per kick return and 20 yards per punt return. He's very fast and can add a much needed element to the offense and special teams.
This is a deep wide receiver draft so Lockett should still be on the board in the fourth round.