The Chicago Bears are coming into the draft with a top 10 pick this year and names like Amari Cooper, Breshad Perriman, Phillip Dorsett, Kevin White and Dante Fowler could be potential picks over Mariota and this comes as the team will likely not explore a Matt Forte trade or a deal with Jay Cutler despite the persistent offseason rumors.
The Bears won just five games last season and they have the number seven overall pick in the draft this year. Michael C. Wright at ESPN Chicago speculates that the Bears likely will go with an offensive player at the pick and he predicts that Amari Cooper or Kevin White will be the selection if they are available. Marcus Mariota has come up in connection with the Bears, but with the team not trading Jay Cutler it's likely that the team will pass on trying to acquire Mariota.
Cooper is the top target for the team, but many draft experts expect that he will be off the bnoard by the time the Bears choose. Todd McShay predicted that White will be the draft pick for the Bears, but there is a chance he could be selected by then also. The team could look at DeVante Parker at number seven, but that could be a reach and if that happens, new GM Ryan Pace may look at taking the best player available.
The team traded away Brandon Marshall and now they have Alshon Jeffery as the clear number one after Eddie Royal was signed. The team needs more depth and that is why the wideout position will likely be a focus for the team. Cooper had an amazing season at Alabama, putting up 124 catches for 1727 yards and 16 touchdowns and that should make him a top 10 pick. White put up strong speed in his 40-yard dash and he had 109 catches and over 1000 yards and 10 TDs for WVU last season.
The team also has some options after the first round at receiver if they don't get the player they want in White or Cooper, as names like Breshad Perriman, Philip Dorsett, Jaelen Strong and Dorial Green-Beckham make up this deep draft class. Wright also adds that players like Nelson Agholor and Justin Hardy also could be options in the second round or later for John Fox. Perriman put up a great 40-time at his pro day and that should move him up draft boards.
Dorsett did the same with a 4.27 seconds 40-time at the Miami pro day and that should start shooting him up draft boards as well. The team is looking to add weapons on offense and the running back position also could be an area of focus. Wright mentioned that Forte could be a trade target this offseason since he is coming into the final year of his deal, but the Bears did not explore that option. The team could look at names like Melvin Gordon, Tevin Coleman and Duke Johnson as options in the draft.
