Chicago Bears NFL Draft primer: Defensive Tackles

The Chicago Bears re-signed a couple of their own defensive tackles, allowed another to walk, and signed a defensive end capable of kicking inside on occasion. But they still have a glaring need at the position.

Here's the SB Nation defensive tackle big board.

1. Louis Nix | 6'2 3/8, 326 pounds | Defensive tackle | Notre Dame *
2. Aaron Donald | 6'0 3/4, 285 pounds | Defensive tackle | Pittsburgh
3. Ra'Shede Hageman | 6'5 7/8, 310 pounds | Defensive tackle | Minnesota
4. Stephon Tuitt | 6'5, 304 pounds | Defensive end/tackle | Notre Dame
5. Tim Jernigan 6'1 5/8, 298 pounds | Defensive tackle | Florida State *
6. Dominique Easley | 6'2, 288 pounds | Defensive tackle | Florida *
7. DaQuan Jones | 6'3 3/4, 322 pounds | Defensive tackle | Penn State
8. Ego Ferguson | 6'3, 315 pounds | Defensive tackle | LSU *
9. Ed Stinson | 6'3, 287 pounds | Defensive end/tackle | Alabama
10. Will Sutton | 6'0 1/2, 303 pounds | Defensive tackle | Arizona State
11. Anthony Johnson | 6'2 1/4, 308 pounds | Defensive tackle | LSU *
12. Caraun Reid | 6'2 1/8, 302 pounds | Defensive tackle | Princeton
13. Calvin Barnett | 6'2, 300 pounds | Defensive tackle | Oklahoma State
14. Jay Bromley | 6'3 1/8, 306 pounds | Defensive tackle | Syracuse
15. Kelcy Quarles | 6'3 3/4, 297 pounds | Defensive tackle | South Carolina *
16. Taylor Hart | 6'6, 281 pounds | Defensive tackle | Oregon
17. Kerry Hyder | 6'2 1/2, 290 pounds | Defensive tackle | Texas Tech
18. DeAndre Coleman | 6'5, 314 pounds | Defensive tackle | California
19. Ryan Carrethers | 6'1 1/4, 337 pounds | Defensive tackle | Arkansas State
20. Daniel McCullers | 6'7, 352 pounds | Defensive Tackle | Tennessee
21. Derrick Hopkins | 6'0, 306 pounds | Defensive tackle | Virginia Tech
22. Chris Whaley | 6'3, 295 pounds | Defensive tackle | Texas
23. Beau Allen | 6'2, 334 pounds | Defensive tackle | Wisconsin
24. Justin Ellis | 6'1 1/4, 334 pounds | Defensive tackle | Louisiana Tech
25. George Uko | 6'2 5/8, 284 pounds | Defensive tackle | Southern California
26. Wade Keliikipi | 6'3, 306 pounds | Defensive tackle | Oregon
27. Roosevelt Nix | 5'11, 267 pounds | Defensive tackle | Kent State
28. Darious Cummings | 6'2, 301 pounds | Defensive Tackle | Florida

For more detailed information on their DT board click here.

Leading up to the draft, many mocks have had the Bears taking Pitt DT Aaron Doanld, but now the buzz has him off the board before 14. If my many years of following the NFL Draft has taught me anything, it's to expect the unexpected. Donald could very well fall right into Phil Emery's lap.

Bears brass did speak with Donald at the NFL Combine and his skill set would be a perfect fit as a one gap penetrating tackle.

Two other players the Bears have met with are 2nd round prospects Dominique Easley and Will Sutton. Easley had some injury issues that has pushed him down draft boards, otherwise he would be a solid 1st round talent. Sutton bulked up to around 330 pounds for his senior year, and the extra weight seemed to hurt his play.

For an extensive scouting report on Sutton check out Danny Kelly's article on him. Kelly is the lead writer for our sister site Field Gulls, as well as a columnist for SB Nation.

Chicago has also showed interest in Princeton DT Caraun Reid, who is a 2nd - 4th round possibility.

At the Senior Bowl, Reid proved he can hang with a higher level of competition. There he showed a good first step and the ability to excel working a single gap. For an interior lineman, Reid has a good array of pass rush moves at his disposal. Doesn't handle double teams particularly well.

Kelcy Quarles is another DT linked to the Bears, as another 3-tech type DT expected to go anywhere in the 2nd - 4th rounds.

Notre Dame's Stephon Tuitt hasn't officially or unofficially been liked to the Bears, but he's a scheme versatile defensive lineman that could be a surprise 1st round option.

The Bears will address defensive tackle at some point in the draft, and once they do we'll have the full run down on all the latest Chicago defenders.