Chicago Bears: Updated Draft Big Board After 1st Wave of Free Agency

The first wave of free agency is in the books. The Bears were able to fill some defensive holes by signing Baltimore Ravens pass-rusher Pernell McPhee and New York Giants safety Antrel Rolle. 

In a surprising move, the Bears traded All-Pro wide receiver Brandon Marshall to the New York Jets. While they signed San Diego Chargers receiver Eddie Royal, there remains a hole at the position. 

These moves now shake up the Bears' first-round big board. A few wide receivers are now in play along with the edge-rushers. The team could also look at one of the top quarterbacks despite committing to Jay Cutler for another year. 

Here is the new big board for the Chicago Bears, counting down to No. 1. Look for the Bears to be able to grab four to seven options on this list if they stand pat at seventh overall. 

Right tackle was an issue for the Bears last year, and current left tackle Jermon Bushrod is not getting any younger. 

Miami's Ereck Flowers is the best offensive tackle in this draft and has the potential to be a franchise left tackle for years to come. He's not getting enough credit right now for how skilled he is, but that will change as we get closer to draft day. 

With all these talent at edge-rusher in the draft, teams had better key in on Flowers to help slow some of these guys down. He's not a viable option with the seventh overall pick, but if the Bears decide to trade back and get more picks, then he's a great choice in the mid-first round. 

Kentucky's Alvin Dupree gets the slight edge here over Missouri's Shane Ray as we start to go through the edge-rushers. 

Dupree might not be the pass-rusher Ray is now, but he's a better athlete and has the raw skills and hard work ethic needed to develop into a great football player. 

At this point, Dupree is still too much of a project at seventh overall, but the Bears might look to trade down and get more draft picks. If they find their way into the mid-first and Dupree is still there then they should pull the trigger. 

The Bears would have liked to have picked up another nose tackle in free agency, but the options were slim. 

What wasn't slim was former Denver Broncos defensive tackle Terrance Knighton's waist line. Rumors of him being overweight might have scared teams off, including the Bears. He ultimately signed for a one-year deal in Washington. 

There's no reason to settle or even overpay for a nose tackle. There are plenty of solid ones in the draft, including Washington's Danny Shelton. He's a dynamic athlete for his size who finds his way into the backfield quite often. 

The Bears might choose to pick one of the other more explosive players on the board over Shelton, but there's an outside chance he's their favorite guy when it's time to pick in the first round. 

If the Bears can strike a deal and trade down, they might be able to nab Shelton in the 10-15 range. 

Randy Gregory is still a very good prospect, but he's been knocked down some boards thanks to Dante Fowler and Vic Beasley's amazing combine performances. 

Gregory has to continue to bulk up, but he has the talent to be a very solid outside linebacker in a 3-4 system. He's a polished pass-rusher with a wide array of moves and plays a style similar to Denver's Von Miller.

At this point, Gregory might not be the Bears' top edge-rushing prospect, but they would still be lucky to have him. He can excel in a system under John Fox and Vic Fangio. 

Jay Cutler is the team's quarterback for 2015 and might get another crack at it in 2016, but his future with the Bears is not bright beyond that. 

It's never too early to think about finding your next franchise quarterback. Oregon's Marcus Mariota could tempt the Bears with his athleticism, high football I.Q., leadership qualities and surprisingly strong arm. 

Questions arise on whether Mariota is a system quarterback. He could start to slide in the draft, forcing the Bears to make a tough choice if he's there at seven. If he's the best guy on the board in their eyes, don't be surprised if he's the pick. 

Alabama's Amari Cooper is the real deal. He has great route-running ability, good speed, shows fight for 50-50 balls and has outstanding hands. 

Cooper is one of two potential No. 1 receivers in this draft. He's also the most realistic one to be there by the time the Bears draft. 

Every year, there seems to be the argument around the draft on whether teams should pick a player based on need or take the best player available. If Cooper is there when the Bears pick, you are about to find out what kind of general manager Ryan Pace is. 

Vic Beasley was a good player at Clemson, but he saw his draft stock absolutely skyrocket after an impressive combine. 

Now, Beasley figures to be the second edge-rusher taken in the draft. He's also a perfect fit for the Bears. With great speed, power and athleticism, Beasley could be a cornerstone player around whom the Bears build their new-look defense. 

The Bears are in a good spot to take Beasley. There's a good chance he will be on the board barring any trades, and with other top options gone, he could be the team's first-round pick. 

All the talk in the top-10 of this draft seems to go to quarterbacks and edge-rushers, but West Virginia's Kevin White might be a better prospect than all of them. 

White has No. 1 receiver written all over him. He displays an amazing array of speed, power and athleticism in the mold of Julio Jones and Dez Bryant. He was highly productive in college and becomes an instant top-tier offensive weapon in his first NFL game. 

It would be a dream come true to see White fall to the Bears. He and Alshon Jeffery would make the best young wide receiver duo in football—what team wouldn't want that? 

There's no question USC's Leonard Williams is the top defensive lineman in this draft. He can play in either a 3-4 or a 4-3 system, and he shows great power and can be kicked inside on passing situations. 

Williams would fit with the Bears as a 5-technique lineman. The team already has Lamarr Houston, Ego Ferguson and the newly acquired Pernell McPhee, who could all fit the role, but Williams is too special a talent to pass up.

There's a very slim chance Williams comes down to the seventh spot, and even then, he's not their top prospect. If he's there, however, and their top guy is gone, then the Bears would still be more than satisfied to have him.   

A terrific scouting combine vaulted Florida edge-rusher Dante Fowler to the top of the list at his position. 

Fowler possesses a great combination of freakish size, blazing speed and amazing athleticism. He would be an outstanding fit for the Bears and has the potential to be a perennial double-digit sack artist in the NFL.

It's unlikely Fowler makes it all the way to the seventh pick, but the Bears will still have him atop their draft board hoping for a miracle.