Chicago Bears: Defense is likely choice in first round of 2018 NFL Draft

With an early quarterback run expected, the Chicago Bears should have excellent defensive players fall to them in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

As already discussed, the 2018 NFL Draft is shaping-up very well for Ryan Pace and the Chicago Bears. With likely four quarterbacks being picked ahead of the Bears’ No. 8 pick, several top-five talents should be there for the team’s choosing.

The only offensive players the Bears would even consider taking at No. 8 would be running back Saquon Barkley and offensive guard Quenton Nelson. Neither are likely to still be on the board, however, so it’s looking more and more like a sure thing that the Bears will select a defensive player if they stick at No. 8.

Some of the defensive playmakers that could still be available include safeties Minkah Fitzpatrick and Derwin James, linebackers Tremaine Edmunds and Roquan Smith, and cornerback Denzel Ward. Any one of these players would be a welcomed addition to Vic Fangio’s defense and should have a large role from Day One.

In Ryan Pace’s three prior drafts, he has selected one defensive player (Leonard Floyd in 2016) and two offensive players (Kevin White in 2015 and Mitchell Trubisky in 2017) in the first-round. Based on how the draft board looks right now, both sides of the ball should be equal come April 26.

It’s not out of the question that the Bears could trade down and select an offensive lineman in the later stages of the first-round. The Bears have a glaring hole at left guard and players like Will Hernandez or Isaiah Wynn could be drafted in the low-to-mid-twenties. It would be a shock if the Bears picked a wide receiver in the first-round, but Pace has been known to shock us before.

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So, if all holds true and the Bears stick at #8, defense is the likely pick. Fangio’s unit could use help at all three levels, so whoever gets selected will be a big help. The only (relatively) sure thing in this draft is that two or three really good players should fall to No. 8 and the Bears should come away with a true difference-maker.