Offensive linemen are safe picks in NFL draft

Agreed. Take the offensive lineman. I'm not sure, but it seems like offensive linemen are less likely to hold out which is another plus. Benson held out didn't he? Boy that adds insult to injury.

It seems that JA needs to have an A on this years draft or else he might be gone next year. He will take an O-line so he can keep his current position at least for one more years so enen if he chooses the wrong lineman in the draft people won't blame him for it as it seems to be the popular choice.
Drafting a RB just does not make sense financially.

This is one of the better draft analysis columns I've read recently.

Agreed, take the o-lineman at 14.

Go Bears.

Walter Payton ran behind 4 tackles that were 1st round draft picks. His guards were 2nd round. The O line is what makes the offense work. Sportswriters and radio personalities hate O line picks because they aren't sexy and you cannot get good columns and airtime out of them. Of course they advocate that the Bears draft to make their jobs easier. Considering the wasted picks on running backs and second round wastes like Mark Bradley, how would the Bears running game look if they wouldn't have wasted those picks by drafting O linemen?

1983 draft is proof of this article's argument. These are the ones who actually made it big over all the others that were drafted or brought in that year:
Round Name Position drafted as what they became
Rd #1 Jimbo Covert LT
Rd #1 Willie Gault WR Speed player to open up the running game.
Rd #2 Mike Richardson CB
Rd #3 Dave Duerson S
Rd #4 Tom Thayer C albeit USFL then Bears as a G in 1985
Rd #8 Richard Dent DE ie A LB who bulked up to dominate at DE
Rd #8 Mark Bortz G ie a DL player with good feet who switched to OL

Darran
Plainfield, Il

wholeheartedly agree

it has to an o-lineman. we should actually move UP in the draft position if we have to. long would be great but miami will pick him. a receiver won't matter if the qb can't get time to throw.

Games are won and lost in the trenches. Terrible cliche, I know, But facts are facts. Running backs can't hit a hole that's not there, abd QB's can't throw without time. O-line is our greatest need, so picking a lineman makes the most sense. The odds of the player being good are high, so do the smart thing Jerry Angelo-O-line first round and/or second round!

Offensive linemen can be a bust, too. Remember Stan Thomas? Tony Mandarich?

Draft an offensive lineman. Do not give more excuses to Rex-Benson to underperform.

Go Bears!

Draft two O-linemen.

When was the last time we saw a lineman blow someone off the ball and dominate the line of scrimmage? We need a Jim Covert AND a Chris Villarial.(sorry if I misspelled his name)

Bears have a dilemma. They need at least one first string calbier G and T for their offensive line. Plus a solid backup at each of those positions would not hurt either.

If they draft a RB in the first round, he would only wind up playing behind a patchwork o-line. Plus, a RB would be playing with a second-string or third-string caliber quarterback (Rex or Kyel would be nothing more than semi-capable backups on any contender), as well as receivers that are as talented as the team's quarterbacks.

It makes sense to draft a solid o-line player in the first round. The team is crying for help in the trenches, and it's a good place to start.

The Bears have so many needs on offense (luckily only 3-4 needs on defense), it is tough to determine how best to come up with answers. Aside from Olin Kreutz and John Tait, the Bears don't have any other players that could start on a contender.

yo, ya knockin Jimmy Mac.........

I agree. Draft two O lineman. Trade Urlacher for Chad Johnson. Sign Pacman and Henry before the Cowboys do.

Well yea, if you look at the miserable job of drafting offensive players the Bears have done (and are likely to continue to do) you gotta go with the safer pick. And they really do need O lineman.

But I'm betting they draft a defensive player in the first round. They're not only stupid, they're stubborn.

linemen on both sides of the ball make everyone else better and is a safe bet. the bears obviously need to be better at rb, qb and wr so start by improving the o-line immediately.

I've just become a sports nut (if you can't beat them, join them) over the past few years and I gotta say...

When it comes to "drafting" talent for the Chicago Bears...

I have NO confidence at all in the process...

None at all...

Even with a lineman you have to avoid a bust. Is Angelo capable of drafting on the 1st round an instant starter at right tackle? His record of drafting offensive players is dismal.

The Bears need a lot; OL, RB, QB. Maybe even a replacement for a suddenly gimpy Urlacher...