The Bears Den: May 01, 2014 - Chicago Bears offseason news & notes

Draft analysis - Moon Mullin: Bears may not be able to wait for elite safety due to changing priority on the position, and lack of depth of talent available to mid-rounds.

Bears mailbag - Kevin Fishbain's pre-draft readers' Q&As about QBs, safeties, RBs and more. Is Aaron Donald's size an issue for Phil Emery?

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Bearsss

Draft Preview: O-line - Moon Mullin: Last year's top priority in solid shape, as signing of Brian de la Puente sets in place another sub-age-30 piece on a line that projects to be together for an extended time.

Draft preview: Center/Guard - Michael C. Wright: Safe to deduce the Bears likely won’t spend much time pondering whether to use an early pick in the NFL draft to select a guard or a center.

Bears on the prowl for a center - Bob LeGere appears to have missed the de la Puente signing, thinks the Bears could use a mid-round selection on a young pivot.

Draft preview: QB - James Neveau: Bears are committed to Cutler, but second string job up for grabs.

Draft preview - Hub Arkush: Bears' biggest defensive need isn't on the line.

Draft preview: Defensive tackle - Dan Wiederer: DT a high draft priority for Bears, and there appears to be especially deep talent pool from which to pick.

Draft preview: Defensive tackles - Greg Gabriel: In a strong class, these five prospects stand above the rest. Jeff Dickerson: Bears interested in Princeton DT Caraun Reid.

Draft profile: Louisville FS Calvin Pryor - Stout in both the run and the pass, and an intimidating presence in the secondary with his ability to lay the hammer, Pryor should start as a rookie on Day 1.

Draft profile: Auburn CB Chris Davis - With Davis' late-round projection and ability as a returner, it would not be surprising to see the Bears take a flyer on him as a cornerback project with upside.

[Video] ESPN - Michael C. Wright discusses the possibility of drafting a backup RB in the later rounds.

Draft profile: Boston College RB Andre Williams - The Bears have far greater needs on the defensive side of the ball than opting for a luxury third-round pick like Williams.

[Audio] NFL Draft Podcast No. 3 - Adam Hoge & Dan Durkin are joined by Greg Gabriel and break down a deep cornerback class, safeties whom the Bears might target, as well as discussing potential backups for Matt Forte.

Draft analysis - Bucky Brooks with team-by-team first-round scenarios for the draft: If Donald is off the board, the Bears would have a tough time convincing the coaching staff that Jernigan can fill the role as the disruptive penetrator.

2013 Broken Tackles: Defense - Football Outsiders' Aaron Schatz takes a look at a stat in which, to nobody's surprise, Chris Conte and Jon Bostic don't fare well... but Tim Jennings and Lance Briggs also pop up.

Mock Draft - Shaun King has the Bears taking Calvin Pryor at #14: Pryor is an aggressive tone-setter, a major upgrade for the Bears.

Mock Draft - [Video] USA Today: Aaron Donald will make Chicagoans happy for years to come.

Bears history - James Neveau's all-time Bears Top 30 draft picks, #13: Offensive tackle Herman Lee, a 23rd round pick in the 1954 draft.

Sun-Times Bears section here.

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NFL draft history full of good, bad and weird moments - Peter Bukowski: Only a handful of teams can truly compete for a Super Bowl title, while a dozen or so other teams trick themselves into believing they can. That leaves the last group, those poor bottom-dwellers, looking forward to the NFL draft.

Major college football powers and the NFL draft - Tony Villiotti with a thorough breakdown of where talent comes from. [Abilene Christi no longer an NFL powerhouse now that Jerry Angelo's not a GM. - Den]

Developing the QB position - Jerry Angelo: What happened to the era in which young signal-callers were given two years to watch and learn?

Draft preview - Gil Brandt's position-by-position look at 49 2014 draft prospects who have caught the attention of NFL teams.

Know thy enemy: Lions - Dane Brugler takes a look at five prospects that the Lions should consider in the 2014 NFL Draft. Are they in competition with the Bears for DT, CB, S?

Know thy enemy: Vikings - Ben Goessling: Vikings' WRs learning Norv Turner's offense. (AP): Patterson in pursuit of more knowledge.

Know thy enemy: Vikings - Ben Goessling: Mike Zimmer will be more hands-on in practice than Leslie Frazier was, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. Tom Pelissero: Cassel atop depth chart; other minicamp nuggets.

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From December 25th, 2011.  With Cutler and Forte out injured, and Kahlil Bell, Kellen Davis, Roy Williams and Dane Sanzenbacher filling major roles on offense, it didn't go so well.