The Bears Den: May 08, 2014 - Chicago Bears pre-draft news & notes

Bears lack homegrown talent - Brad Biggs: Busy as the Bears were in free agency this year it doesn't provide long-term stability; they have only nine players on the roster they drafted before 2013, the lowest figure in the NFL. Steven Ruiz: Bears worst drafters over last 5 years.

Phil Emery in spotlight as NFL draft finally arrives - David Haugh: Did move to May give former scout extra time to unearth another surprise first-rounder? Moon Mullin: Real focus of Bears draft isn’t Pryor or Clinton-Dix; it’s Emery.

Draft preview - Laurence Holmes: Either of the top two safeties could help the Bears immediately, but will Phil Emery makes the conventional pick that everyone agrees on?

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2014 Bears NFL draft: Previews, analysis, prospect profiles

Draft preview - Tom Pelissero takes a closer look at what the NFC North teams will hope to do on draft night: The Bears need young playmakers across the board on defense, with the safety position particularly unsettled.

NFC North NFL draft prospects - Dan Wiederer: No shortage of needs around the Bears[sic] division as it will look to improve after underperforming 2013.

Draft preview: Defensive backs - Larry Mayer: Most NFL analysts agree that this year's draft is deep at cornerback, with at least four prospects expected to garner first-round consideration, while there isn’t as much depth at safety.

Draft preview: Cornerbacks - James Neveau: Bears have both starting corners back from 2013, but age and injury concerns could force them to draft a corner early.

Draft preview: Defensive line - James Neveau: Bears are still woefully thin at their defensive tackle spot and are looking at potentially taking one in the first round.

Draft preview - Mike Tanier and Russ Lande with their position-by-position guide to the 2014 NFL draft.

View Meanderings from the Moon - Moon Mullin rambles about the safeties and the prospect of QBs being taken earlier than they deserve to be due to the position, and something about Donald and the Vikings. Size does matter to Bears – or does it?

Worst 1st was one traded for Mirer - Hub Arkush outlines what he wants the Bears to do on draft day, or he'll throw pencils again. Pencils.

[Video] ESPN - Michael C. Wright discusses who might be on Chicago’s draft radar.

[Video] ESPN Hot Button - Which position should the Bears address in the first round of this year's NFL Draft? ESPN NFL Insider Adam Caplan weighs in.

Draft preview - Rich Campbell: Phil Emery says he has 6 players in mind for No. 14 overall pick in NFL draft, and these prospects fit the bill.

Draft profile: Pittsburgh DT Aaron Donald - Adam Hoge’s Bears Big Board, #2: The Bears still need to add a young, quality DT to the depth chart. Donald has dominated every step of the pre-draft process and has the game film to fall back on as well.

Will Bears grab Pitt's Donald in draft? - Bob LeGere: If he's available, Bears likely will pounce on difference-making DT.

Draft profile: Louisville Safety Calvin Pryor - Adam Hoge’s Bears Big Board, #1: Some will prefer Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, but Pryor’s style of play is exactly what the Bears need. They haven’t had a high-motor, playmaking safety since Mike Brown.

Draft profile: Florida State DT Timmy Jernigan - A failed drug test may be a deal-breaker for an organization that prides itself on avoiding as many off the field distractions as possible. Then again, Jernigan's talent could be enough for the Bears to give him a pass for his misstep in February.

[Audio] NFL Mock Draft Podcast - Adam Hoge & Dan Durkin put together a live mock draft for their final episode.

Mock Draft - Dan Durkin's final first-round mock: With Gilbert, Donald and Clinton-Dix off the board, the Bears turn to the playmaking Calvin Pryor.

Mock Draft - Hub's final mock draft: Calvin Pryor: Bears get luck[sic] — best play[sic] available fits biggest area of need.

Mock Draft - CBSSports' and NFLDraftScout's five final mock drafts all have Aaron Donald off the board before the Bears pick at 14.

Mock Draft - Nate Davis still has Aaron Donald available at 14, and the Bears taking him.  CB Stanley Jean-Baptiste in round 2.

Mock Draft - Dan Pompei's final mock, with Donald taken by the Bucs, sees the Bears select Alabama LB C.J Mosley: One of the most underrated players in the draft, and if healthy could be the successor to Briggs or Urlacher.

Mock Draft - Brad Biggs' final mock: Donald would be ideal, but if he isn't available, GM Phil Emery's background suggests a dynamic athlete. Pryor could be that guy.

Mock Draft - Eric Galko: The Bears have to get younger on defense. Their top three corners are all over 30. Kyle Fuller has size and is a physical run defender as well as an excellent cover guy.

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Bearsss

Draft capsules of current Bears players - Larry Mayer: What was being said about Jay Cutler and several other Bears players when they were entering the league?

Bears unlikey to appear on "Hard Knocks"? - Several NFL teams have expressed a willingness to be the subject of the popular HBO series "Hard Knocks"; the Bears have made it clear that they’d rather another team be featured on the show.

All-time Bears Top 30 draft picks, #2 - James Neveau: Taken in the second round of the 1981 draft, Mike Singletary was the backbone of arguably the greatest defense of all time, being elected to 10 Pro Bowls and was a seven-time First-Team All-Pro.

Cutler, Cavallari have second son - The couple welcomed a son Wednesday named Jaxon Wyatt.

[Video] Inside the Bears - Anthony Adams takes to the streets to find out which Bears player fans would like to hang out with and what they think of Jay Cutler's magnificent mane.

Sun-Times Bears section here.

Check WCGer Sackman's selection of Bears-themed tops here, or some t-shirt designs here.

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Polish sausage

The decline of the running back position - Jerry Angelo: Unlike all other positions who are rewarded for their past, the running back is doomed by it. To exploit them is a shame, but to reward them is foolishness.

How team doctors examine health and concussion history - Jenny Vrentas: Everyone has an opinion about NFL draft prospects, but the ones that count the most come from team doctors and athletic trainers.

Inside a war room during the NFL Draft - Andrew Brandt: At team headquarters across the NFL, the draft means waiting, working through the chaos, waiting some more and trusting The Board.

Jack Bechta: The Agent's Journal - What’s going on behind the scenes of the 2014 draft?

Holding the NFL Draft in May Is a Bust - Robert Klemko: The selections have yet to come, and there’s uncertainty about next year’s venue, but one thing is crystal clear: the draft must move back to late April.

Burning questions for 2014 NFL draft - Chris Burke & Doug Farrar: Where will collegiate stars like Jadeveon Clowney and Johnny Manziel end up? How many trades will we see in the first round? [N.B. Both think 2+ QBs will go in top 15 - Den]

Draft analysis - Chris Burke: Who are the most overrated prospects in 2014 NFL draft? Doug Farrar: Defensive sleepers.

Know thy enemy: Lions - Michael Rothstein's thoughts on what the Lions' Top 10 board could look like, bearing in mind they pick at #10 and are not in the hunt for a QB.

Mock Draft (sort of) - Kevin Nogle: Movie athletes drafted into the NFL.  Who falls to the Bears?

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