Bears’ draft plan could include tight end in the 1st round

By J.E.  |   Monday, February 20, 2006  |  Comments( 0 )

Chicago Bears
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After watching his team struggle to put points on the board week in and week out last season, it's a pretty good bet that Chicago Bears' GM Jerry Angelo will use the 26th pick in the upcoming draft to add some depth to the offense. The Bears are expected to aggressively pursue a wide receiver in the free agent market, which means their draft pick could likely be spent on a tight end.

Last year's starter Desmond Clark had only 24 receptions for 229 yards and 2 touchdowns, which pales in comparison to the numbers posted by the top tight ends in the league. While not many guys would be able to match Antonio Gates' 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns or Jeremy Shockey's 891 yards and 7 touchdowns, Clark ranked near the bottom in offensive output for a starting tight end -- despite appearing in all 16 games for the Bears.

Most draft experts and analysts list Vernon Davis of Maryland, Leonard Pope of Georgia, and Marcedes Lewis of UCLA as possible first-round picks. Each of these players would be able to give the Bears a much needed boost in the scoring department.

Davis is the highest-ranked tight end of the group, and likely won't be on the board when the Bears make their selection. At 6'3" and 250lbs, he is a bit smaller than most teams want in a tight end; but his strength, speed, and athleticism make up for his lack of size. As a junior last season, Davis caught 51 passes for 871 yards and 6 touchdowns for the Terrapins. His great hands and ability to create separation from defenders would go a long way towards helping the Bears overcome their offensive woes.

Many scouts list Pope as the second-best tight end in the 2006 draft class. With his size (6'7", 259) and quickness, he should develop into an excellent blocker, which is a plus for the run-oriented Bears offense. In addition, Pope has sure hands as a receiver and has a reputation for being able to pick up yards after the catch. He made 39 receptions for 541 yards and 4 touchdowns last year for the Bulldogs. If the real draft plays out like the many mock versions that are out there, it looks like Pope could be suiting up for Chicago next season.

Lewis was a key part of the high-powered, high-profile UCLA squad last year. He racked up 741 yards and 10 touchdowns on 58 receptions for the Bruins and helped lead the team to a 9-2 record. Lewis' biggest asset is his ability to stretch defenses and make an impact downfield whenever he is in the game. He has better-than-average speed for his size (6'6", 255) and has spent a lot of time working on the blocking aspect of his game. If there's a player on the board that could make the Bears think twice about taking Pope, it's this guy.

Overall, it seems like the Chicago Bears are in good shape come draft day. The talent at tight end is deep this year, and not many other teams are looking to pick up help at that position. So when the 26th selection comes up, don't expect the Bears to take too much time off the clock before snapping up one of these top prospects.
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