Should the Bears trade up?

Even with all the praise Rashard Mendenhall gets around here, the Illinois junior running back should be relegated to a backup plan for the Bears at Saturday’s NFL Draft. The Bears most clear need is offensive line help (well, after quarterback), and there are enough first round talents in this class that they should come away with one at pick 14.

At least that was the thought a few weeks ago. With the recent ascensions of Chris Williams and Branden Albert, the pool of tackles may be all dried up by the time the Bears first pick rolls around. That’s what the Sun-Times’ Mike Mulligan thinks could happen, and argues general manager Jerry Angelo would be foolish not to package one of the team’s two third round picks to move up and secure a tackle.

What the decision should come down to is how the organization feels about Vanderbilt’s Williams and Jeff Otah of Pitt. We already know Michigan tackle Jake Long is going #1 overall to Miami, and Virginia’s Albert and Boise State’s Ryan Clady are expected to be gone by 14. Either Williams or Otah will likely be gone as well, meaning the best the Bears can hope for is whoever is left. Of course, a team could trade in front of the Bears to grab the last of the elite tackles, leaving the Bears with nothing.

If the Bears feel good enough about Otah and Williams, I think it’s fine to stand pat at 14. Having two third rounders is great, especially since the Bears generally do so well in the middle rounds. You don’t want to give one of those picks up if you don’t have to. Mendenhall is good enough that the Bears should feel safe with him if neither Otah or Williams are available. If one of them is, which is likely, and you like both, then just grab whoever is left. There have also been reports that Mendenhall could be the Bears guy regardless, so don’t be too surprised if he’s the pick even if the two tackles are still there.

If the Bears aren’t high on Otah or Williams, or strongly prefer one over the other, then they should make a move. It’s likely that either Clady or Albert will go at pick five to the Chiefs. The Bears should trade up and make sure to grab whichever tackle Kansas City doesn’t. The Bears are said to be high on Albert, but I think Clady would be ideal. He’s super athletic and projects as a clear left tackle in the NFL.

To get him, or their choice of Williams and Otah, the Bears only have to jump ahead of Denver and Carolina, who pick at 12 and 13. The Pats always love trading down, so pick seven is a possibility.

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While we’re on the subject, I have a feeling the Bears might be terrible next season, regardless of what happens on Saturday. As I said earlier, they need to pay Urlacher. A team can’t be good if it’s best player is pissed at management. But this Briggs stuff now is just insane. Complaining about a contract you signed six weeks ago….I don’t even know what to say. Lance Briggs is an idiot and even though he got a six-year deal, he won’t last that long in Chicago. The Bears can void the deal after two years, and that’s what’s going to happen. I thought resigning Briggs was critical, but if he’s going to pull this shit, then let him go. I also don’t think the Urlacher and Briggs situations are very similar. Briggs showed up on SportsCenter saying he’ll never play for the Bears again, and looked for any media outlet in Chicago that would let him speak. Urlacher has only spoken to the papers, and surely never wanted the retirement story to break. I don’t think Urlacher’s people leaked that out to the media, it was just a case of good reporting.