Let's take a trip around the internet to see which direction some of the mock draft experts have the Chicago Bears going with the 7th overall selection in the 2015 NFL Draft.
Dan Kadar, NFL Draft Editor for SB Nation, dropped his latest mock draft yesterday.
7. Chicago Bears: Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
It's easy to go back and forth on this pick, between Shelton and a pass rusher like Vic Beasley or Bud Dupree. The signing of Pernell McPhee eases the pass rush need some. If the Bears go into the draft with similar grades on Shelton and the pass rushers, Shelton should be the choice. He would become the team's starting nose tackle straight away instead of trying to force someone like Will Sutton or Jeremiah Ratliff into that position. Shelton obviously possesses the girth to handle the nose, but don't underestimate his ability to push the pocket and get after the quarterback.
Shelton's ability to get after the QB isn't why he's a first round talent, but to immediately assume he's just a 2 down player because of his size is false. He had good stamina at Washington as evidenced by the ridiculous amount of snaps he played for them and he shows good short burst quickness on the interior.
Rob Rang over at CBSSports.com has the Bears taking Shelton too.
Danny Shelton, DT, Washington: With the hiring of defensive-minded head coach John Fox (who in turn hired former San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio), the Bears are looking for big improvements on that side of the ball. Fox and Fangio know better than most the value of dominant defensive linemen. The 6-2, 343-pound Shelton proved one of the elite prospects at the Senior Bowl. He's surprisingly quick and passionate in pursuit for a man of his size and eats up blocks, freeing up teammates to make big plays.
One assumption I see making the rounds is that Fangio has no need for a big space eater on his defensive line. Just because he didn't utilize a "traditional 2-gap big body" in San Francisco, don't assume his entire front was all playing 1 gap. Fangio would find use for a talent like Shelton.
NFL.com's Charley Casserly also shares the Shelton to the Bears line of thinking.
The Bears need to build a defensive line for their new 3-4 defense.
Short and to the point, but true.
Sports Illustrated's Chris Burke is another that has Shelton to Chicago.
Their shift to a 3-4 set underway, the Bears scored Pernell McPhee with one of the NFL's better early free-agent moves. Next step: find some beef up front. Here's my colleague, Doug Farrar, on Shelton: "I haven't seen better overall tape from any player in this draft class. ... Shelton can destroy pockets, he'll use his surprisingly quick feet to get past blockers and he works very well from multiple gaps."
Chicago Football's Hub Arkush has the Bears going offense in his latest mock draft.
Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
Bears need a No. 1 WR, Cooper a steal at seven
Wide out may not be as glaring a need as defense, but snagging an elite prospect like Cooper would be fine by me.
Dane Brugler of CBSSports.com has the Bears taking a wide out too, but it's the other top 10 prospect.
7. Chicago Bears -- Kevin White, WR, West Virginia: This pick has to be defense, right? After the Brandon Marshall trade, wide receiver is now a possibility and with White still on the board, it's a match that makes sense.
Nate Atkins who writes for Hub's chicagofootball.com, has the Bears going defense.
Shane Ray, OLB, Missouri
Kick off the 3-4 switch with a safe-bet pass-rusher.
Ray isn't my favorite of the OLB prospects, but he is getting some top 10 looks on a lot of mocks.
Do any of these mock drafts excite you?