Chicago Bears: What to Expect on Day 2 of the 2015 NFL Draft

The first day of the 2015 NFL Draft could not have gone better for the Chicago Bears.

In front of a predominantly hometown crowd at Chicago’s Auditorium Theatre, new general manager Ryan Pace took the best player off the board by selecting prolific West Virginia wide receiver Kevin White with the No. 7 overall pick.

The selection of White not only takes a lot of pressure off of star receiver Alshon Jeffery, but it also assured that Pace is committed to starting quarterback Jay Cutler, who has experienced some poor play since coming to Chicago from Denver back in 2009.

White and Jeffery have the potential to become one of the NFL’s most feared receiving duos in as little as the next two years. Most of that potential is in the hands of Cutler, but the introduction of former Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase’s pass-oriented style could give Cutler the help he needs to lead the Bears to the playoffs.

Now that the first round and day is over, Day 2 of the 2015 NFL Draft is underway, and will feature Chicago draft picks in both Round 2 and Round 3, at No. 39 and No. 71, respectively.

Dec 29, 2014; Memphis, TN, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers wide receiver Kevin White (11) catches a pass while defended by Texas A&M Aggies defensive back Deshazor Everett (29) during the game in the 2014 Liberty Bowl at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports

With the void at wide receiver filled out, the Bears still have plenty of work to do and plenty of holes to fill.

With a need for pass-rushing in Vic Fangio’s 3-4 defense, there is a possibility that controversial Nebraska DE/OLB Randy Gregory could drop to Chicago. He obviously has the talent to be a sack machine in the NFL, and would be quite the bargain at No. 39, talent wise. The million dollar question is whether taking him in would be worth the Bears’ trouble.

Nov 22, 2014; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Utes defensive end Nate Orchard (8) sacks Arizona Wildcats quarterback Jesse Scroggins (15) during the second half at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Arizona won 42-10. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

Utah’s Nate Orchard is also intriguing as a third-round pass rusher option. However, it’s possible that he’ll be off the board before the 71st pick.

Another place where Chicago could use some personnel at is in the secondary. The loss of long-tenured veteran cornerback Charles Tillman to free agency created a need for more depth at the position. 2014 first round pick Kyle Fuller is the top guy right now, and opposite of him is Tim Jennings–entering his 10th year in the NFL.

The Bears could use some depth at the safety position. The situation was addressed earlier in the offseason when Chicago signed former Giants safety Antrel Rolle to start along side Ryan Mundy. The addition of Rolle still leaves Chicago with only three safeties on the roster. While both are great players and leaders, they are both in their 30s. It would be wise for Pace to bring in a guy for Rolle and Mundy to take under their wings.

Two secondary players that stand out to me in the 2nd round are both named Collins and are both from the Southeastern Conference.

Safety Landon Collins of Alabama could find himself in a good situation if drafted by Chicago. If drafted, he will have the opportunity to master his craft under the seasoned Rolle and Collins.

LSU’s Jalen Collins has the tools and athleticism to be a solid cornerback in this league, but he is raw from a technical standpoint. Tim Jennings and Fuller could be of great help in helping him learn the ropes of the position.

Corners that the Bears could target in the third round include FSU’s P.J. Williams, Stanford’s Alex Carter and Oregon State’s Steven Nelson.

Florida State’s Eddie Goldman could add a big body to the Bears defense in the second round. The 6’4″ 336-pound defensive tackle would instantly become the biggest lineman on the roster.

However, one position that hasn’t been mentioned in many Bears draft scenarios is the offensive line. You could never have too many offensive linemen, and if Oregon tackle Jake Fisher drops to the Bears, they should take him.

Oct 18, 2014; Eugene, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks offensive lineman Jake Fisher (75) motivates the crowd against the Washington Huskies at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports

The Bears’ line struggled last season, and Fisher would add great talent and versatility. He could start at either the left or right tackle, and could even play guard. It is wise to note that Pro Bowl guard Kyle Long and Fisher were teammates at Oregon, so past chemistry could also equal a greater chance on the line.

If he’s not available, then I think they should go with one of the Collins’. Randy Gregory is too risky to take with the potential troubles he presents.

The best third round option for Chicago is probably Nate Orchard if he gets there. He would become an instant threat in the pass-rush, but still needs to improve greatly in other areas.

Next: Chicago Bears: Kevin White a Home Run at No. 7

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