(SportsNetwork.com) - With Brandon Marshall now with the New York Jets, Chicago needs some help opposite Alshon Jeffery and should be in position to garner one of the draft's top two receivers, either Alabama's Amari Copper or West Virginia's Kevin White, at No. 7 overall.
Cooper is the more polished product who should hit the ground running as a sharp route-runner with plus hands and tremendous short- area quickness, while White has the better triangle numbers (size, strength and speed) and the higher ceiling as a prospect.
There are other avenues as well for the Bears. Chicago could also be in the Marcus Mariota hunt but will have issues trying to move the poster-child for bad-body language, Jay Cutler.
Meanwhile, there has been a sharp shift in defensive philosophy in the Windy City now that John Fox and Vic Fangio have arrived and plan to run a 3-4. Finding a top-tier nose tackle like Washington's Danny Shelton, or an edge defender to rush the passer, perhaps Clemson's Vic Beasley or Kentucky's Bud Dupree, will also be in new general manager Ryan Pace's thought process.
2014 Record: 5-11
Top Needs: LB, DL, S, QB, WR
First Three Picks: No. 7, No. 39, No. 71
Number of Selections: 6 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
RECENT FIRST ROUND HISTORY: 2014 - Kyle Fuller (CB, Virginia Tech); 2013 - Kyle Long (OG, Oregon); 2012 - Shea McClellin (DE, Boise State); 2011 - Gabe Carimi (OT, Wisconsin); 2010 - none; 2009 - none; 2008 - Chris Williams (OT, Vanderbilt); 2007 - Greg Olsen (TE, Miami-Florida); 2006 - none; 2005 - Cedric Benson (RB, Texas)
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.