Safest, Riskiest Choices the Chicago Bears Might Consider in the 2015 NFL Draft

The NFL draft comes to Chicago April 30. The hometown team certainly has a multitude of options after using a "prove it" approach for the bulk of its free-agent signings. 

In the first round, the Chicago Bears are poised to take the best player available. This could be an edge-rusher, wide receiver or even a quarterback. It's important they get this first pick right. A swing-and-miss from a new regime could be devastating long-term. 

Who are the safe picks the Bears know they can rely on? One stud wide receiver instantly comes to mind, while a big-name quarterback could end up being a huge risk.

Click ahead to find out the safest and riskiest picks for the Bears in this year's draft. 

With Brandon Marshall now in New York, the Bears could use another solid long-term option at receiver to pair with Alshon Jeffery. 

Alabama's Amari Cooper is by far the safest receiver in the draft. His being a safe pick is no downgrade to his explosive talent. 

Cooper is a polished route-runner with top-notch speed who can stretch a defense. He's quick off the line and smart enough to break off or sit down on routes. Cooper's body control is fantastic, and he's tough to bring down in the open field. 

West Virginia's Kevin White is right up there with Cooper as the best two receivers in the draft, but if the Bears want to go with a surer long-term bet, then Cooper is their guy. 

Even after signing a multitude of players at both the inside and outside linebacker positions, the Bears could be tempted to grab one of the talented edge-rushers in the first round. 

Florida's Dante Fowler Jr. could be off the board by the time the Bears draft, and the same could be said for Clemson's Vic Beasley. Some believe Missouri's Shane Ray is the next best option, but he's a huge risk. 

Ray tore it up last season at Missouri, but it was his first and only season as a starter. He backed up Kony Ealy and Michael Sam the season before, and neither of them is a head-turner in the NFL. 

When you watch Ray in action, it's hard to tell whether his first step is that good, or if he's just guessing the snap count. He's not the best in stopping the run and could have a hard time setting the edge against bigger offensive linemen. 

There's a decent chance Ray will be a good pass-rusher in the NFL, but the Bears shouldn't be the ones to take that risk. If he's on the board when they draft, they should opt for a more polished player instead. 

Right tackle is still an issue for the Bears. They don't have a reliable option on the roster, and that could pose a problem during the season if they don't address the need in the draft. 

Oregon's Jake Fisher is a terrific option in the second round. He's a big yet agile tackle who can play both the right and left tackle spots. He's quick but still has a nasty edge to him similar to fellow Oregon lineman Kyle Long. 

The Bears can go in a ton of directions in the second round, but picking the best offensive tackle on the board is not only the safest pick but the smartest as well. 

Tim Jennings took a big step backward last season for the Bears. It remains to be seen whether it was the system, or his age (31) has started to catch up to him. Either way, the Bears could be in the market for another corner. 

UConn's Byron Jones has been turning heads since the combine with his explosive measurables. As you can see in the picture above, he certainly looks the part of an NFL player. 

What the Bears have to be careful with is falling in love with a workout warrior. Jones can do all the things that wow people at a pro day, but can he play football? 

To his credit, Jones did have a good season at UConn. He showed good ball skills and closing speed. Jones might be on the board at the top of the second round within the Bears' sights.

As tempting as it is to grab him, they might want to let him go to another team. These combine stars rarely pan out to be good pros. 

No, this isn't a misprint. Brett Hundley can be a safe pick if taken in the right round. He's a good choice for the Bears in the third. 

Jay Cutler is under the team's control for another two years. He's clearly not the long-term answer but can be a decent enough bridge to the next guy. 

Hundley is no way ready to be anybody's starting quarterback in 2015, but if he sits for two years and learns under offensive coordinator Adam Gase, then he should be ready to go in 2017. 

All the skills and measurables are there for Hundley. He can certainly spin it and has speed to make plays with his feet if needed. He has to be more consistent and work on his accuracy, but time and development can fix that. 

It's safe to draft a guy like Hundley in the third and stash him for a while. If he turns into the starting quarterback you've always wanted two years from now, then the pick goes from safe to a sure home run. 

Marcus Mariota is either going to make or break a general manager's career. He's the most polarizing name in the draft, and still nobody can get a gauge as to where he will land in the first round. 

If Mariota is on the board when the Bears draft, they should trade out. He could well be a good quarterback, but he just isn't the right fit. Too many questions and pressures come with him. 

The team that takes Mariota is going to have pressure to start him on Day 1. Can he handle that in Chicago? Is he ready to take control of an NFL team? Is he more than just a "system quarterback"?

The Jay Cutler, Marcus Mariota camp story would consume the franchise. It's not exactly the way you want to start a new regime. If the Bears sit Mariota, then they get hit hard from a fanbase looking to pull the plug on a quarterback who led the league in turnovers last year. 

There just isn't a win-win scenario in taking Mariota. He's a good kid and a good football player, but it would be a mess in Chicago from the moment he's drafted. 

The only way a Mariota-to-Chicago move works is if the Bears are able to trade Jay Cutler. If they can achieve that, then this is all a moot point.