Chicago Bears 2016 First Round Draft Projections

The year started off great for the Chicago Bears, but free agency and the NFL Draft will have to fix the holes that have plagued a team ready to breakout.

Apr 30, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Kevin White (West Virginia) is selected as the number seven overall pick to the Chicago Bears in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

The year started off great for the Chicago Bears when they picked up from free agency defensive end Pernell McPhee from the Baltimore Ravens. They also went the route of picking up Ray McDonald and we all know what happened with there. The mid-season release of Jeremiah Ratliff was a shocker, and it looked as if the Bears defense was going to be a repeat of the 2014 season.

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The biggest let down was the injury of first-round draft pick wide receiver Kevin White. No one really had a chance to see what he could do on the field. With the season now coming to a close the Bears have definitely had their fill of injuries, drama and upside.

The expectations of the rookies were not immediate until the Bears were plagued with the injury bug. They each had to step in to replace injured or released players. Nose tackle Eddie Goldman replaced Ratliff as well as running back Jeremy Langford who has racked up 6 touchdowns covering for an injured Matt Forte, and center Hroniss Grasu who replaced an injured Will Montgomery.

But there are still holes to fill on both sides of the ball and it will be up to the Halas brass to make the right choices in the 2016 NFL Draft. Several choices are listed in the next few slides as to the direction the Bears may go for the number one pick.

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