The Bears Den: May 09, 2014 - Chicago Bears NFL Draft news & notes

Bears select CB Kyle Fuller at 14 - Larry Mayer: The Bears bolstered their secondary Thursday night by selecting Virginia Tech cornerback Kyle Fuller with the 14th pick in the first round of the NFL Draft. Bears players react on Twitter.

Football a family affair for Fuller - Larry Mayer: Football is a family affair for Bears first-round draft pick Kyle Fuller, who follows two older brothers into the NFL, including one who plays for an NFC North rival.

[Video] ChicagoBears.com - Highlights of the Bears first round draft choice, cornerback Kyle Fuller. Photos from the Tribune.

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2014 NFL draft: Bears select Kyle Fuller in 1st round

Larry Mayer's 2014 NFL Draft blog - Tim: Go Cubs, go! Go Cubs, go! Hey Chicago, wataya say? Cubs are gonna win today! LM: I certainly hope you're right, but I certainly wouldn't count on it, given the past three games (as well as the previous century).

Bears draft VaTech corner Fuller - Bob LeGere: Although Tillman and Jennings will be the Bears' starters next season, Fuller is expected to contribute immediately. Mike Mayock said Fuller is "the most NFL-ready (cornerback) with good length and can play inside or outside."

Player profile - Tillman (33) and Jennings (30) are not getting any younger, which is why taking Fuller should be considered a smart move for long-term stability in the secondary.

Bears pick Kyle Fuller in 1st - Michael C. Wright: There’s a good chance Fuller will begin the season as the club’s nickel corner; it’s worth noting how often the Bears operate out of nickel packages given the air attacks of the Lions and Packers. Will play more than SLB.

Meet Kyle Fuller, Charles Tillman’s replacement - Adam Hoge: If all goes as planned, Fuller will likely beat out Hayden and Frey at the nickel spot and play a lot — most likely used as a weapon they can move around each week to eliminate a specific offensive threat.

[Video] - Kevin Fishbain takes a look at former Virginia Tech cornerback Kyle Fuller in this 2014 NFL Draft video profile.

Bears pick of Kyle Fuller a slight surprise - Dan Wiederer: With higher needs at DT and safety, and Aaron Donald off draft board just ahead of them, they take Virginia Tech CB.

Safety first? Not with Phil Emery calling shots - David Haugh: This wasn't a sexy pick. This was a safe, smart one. Only time can judge fairly, but the Bears welcomed a player considered capable of contributing Week 1 to a revamped defense.

[Video] ChicagoBears.com - Phil Emery addresses the media after drafting Kyle Fuller in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft Thursday night.

GM confident Kyle Fuller right pick for new 'D' - Jon Greenberg: Emery wants someone to cover the wide variety of receivers and TEs in the modern NFL offense. Fuller has covered Eric Ebron, who was taken 10th by Detroit.

Bears expecting big things from Kyle Fuller - Brad Biggs: Phil Emery tosses around rave words such as "length, skill, athleticism, versatility and productivity" about top pick.

Kyle Fuller pick gives Bears immediate starting DB - Moon Mullin: Emery obtained a projected day one starter, and the Bears now project to field two 6-foot CBs in sub packages. Chris Boden: No plans to move Kyle Fuller to safety.

Fuller a nice pick, but the safest? - Arthur Arkush: How does a club that expects to compete for a Super Bowl now find a way to get immediate contributions out of Fuller, who is behind Tillman and Tim Jennings?

Fuller right guy at right time - Hub Arkush: As if the Bears-Packers rivalry needed one more twist to get the venom flowing, the performances of Fuller and Clinton-Dix will be compared on nearly a weekly basis for as long as they remain a Bear and a Packer.

Draft analysis - James Neveau: With a weak trade market that was seemingly uninterested in going after Manziel or Bridgewater, the Bears had no choice but to make their pick, and Emery got the guy with the versatility that he so often touts when discussing prospects.

Fuller pick consistent with Bears draft style under Emery - Moon Mullin: Phil Emery seems to have a tendency to be decidedly aggressive rather than conservative in bringing in talent, with an emphasis on upside.

Fuller fits mold as Bears' top pick - Tom Musick: Drafting a safety would have made for happy talk-show fodder on Friday morning, but Emery stuck with his instincts and bypassed the top two safeties for the player that he believed was best for the Bears.

[Audio] - Kyle Fuller dishes on being picked by Chicago with the No. 14 pick in the NFL draft, how his brothers helped him prepare, getting ready to compete at the next level and more. 'Blessed' to be a member of the Bears.

[Video] ESPN - Bill Polian talks about the Bears' first round draft choice Kyle Fuller.

[Video] - Chris Boden and Dan Jiggetts break down Bears' selection of Fuller.

Bears fans have reason for optimism - Barry Rozner: There is still work to do but considering where they were when the season ended, the Bears have made significant progress toward becoming a top-20 defense again.

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Bearsss

Still plenty of defensive prospects left for Bears - Rich Campbell: DT and safety remain priority in the 2nd and 3rd rounds of NFL draft on Friday.

Top available round 2 defensive prospects - Dan Durkin: Plenty of interior defensive line talent remaining. Jeff Dickerson: Bears will find slim pickings at safety on Friday.

Draft analysis - Fanspeak.com's BPA Big Board for Day 2.

Wilson still grateful for second chance - Larry Mayer: Marquess Wilson remains grateful to the Bears for drafting him in the seventh round a year ago after he left the Washington State football team.

Bears history: Top 30 all-time Bears draft picks, #1 - James Neveau: Taken 203rd overall in the eighth round of the 1983 draft, Richard Dent's career is one of the greatest examples of why teams should never take any pick for granted in the NFL Draft.

Sun-Times Bears section here.

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Polish sausage

Know thy enemy: Lions - Michael Rothstein: Lions take TE Eric Ebron in 1st. For a team with desperate defensive needs, this pick makes such little sense. Scouting report ... Passing on defense a gamble for Lions, who hope Ebron is matchup nightmare.

Know thy enemy: Vikings - Ben Goessling: Vikings pick raw UCLA LB Anthony Barr at 9th overall to help Zimmer remodel Vikings' D ... Trade back into first round to take Teddy Bridgewater, whose ability to handle pressure set him apart [from Christian Ponder, ho ho - Den].

Know thy enemy: Packers - Rob Demovsky: Packers finally find replacement for Nick Collins, taking Ha Ha Clinton-Dix in 1st ... Ignoring safety position again would've been a mistake.

Know thy enemies - Brad Biggs: How NFC North shapes up after first round. James Neveau: Grade thy enemies.

Day 2 Mock Draft simulator - Fanspeak's Mock Draft Simulator On the Clock data (Pick Order, Team Needs after Round 1 picks, and Players Available) have all been updated for Day 2.  [Have fun, but try not to flood the Den comments... someone put up a fanpost where people can join in and link to that, or something - Den.]

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Etwas zu Ihren Leidenschaften beruhigen.  Auch, ist das ein Weinendeengel? Sch*iße.