2013 NFL Mock Draft: Chicago Bears Select...

The 2013 Chicago Bears are a team in transition. For many years, defense has been the hallmark of every Bears team. The great tradition of middle linebackers that includes Dick Butkus and Mike Singletary has for the past 12 years been carried on by Brian Urlacher -- who appears to be on his way out of Chicago (the window is still open, but just barely).

Newly hired coach Marc Trestman is an offensive guru brought in from the CFL, who will place more emphasis on the offensive side of the ball than his predecessor Lovie Smith.

Coming into the draft, the Bears greatest needs are at middle linebacker and on the offensive line (both at tackle and guard). Let's see who the Bears likely had up on their board at the beginning of this draft:

• OT Luke Joeckel (gone - 6th)
• OT Eric Fisher (gone - 5th)
• OT Lane Johnson (gone - 7th)
• OG Chance Warmack (gone - 9th)
• OG Jonathan Cooper (gone - 10th)
• OT D. J. Fluker
• OT Menelik Watson
• ILB Alec Ogletree
• ILB Manti Te'o
• ILB Arthur Brown
• ILB Kevin Minter
• TE Tyler Eifert (gone - 17th)

The Bears will likely run to the podium if any of the first five are still there; but that is not the case in this mock, so we're going to take a little time to think about this.

Whistle. Deep Thoughts. Crickets. Ringing Phones.

OK, we're back. I'm pretty sure that Lovie Smith would have taken one of the 'backers here (probably Ogletree because of his athletic gifts, or maybe Brown because of Ogletree's off-the-field problems).

But Marc Trestman is all about protecting and enabling his QB (mostly through scheme, but also by getting him blockers and weapons).

My guess is that Trestman is salivating at the idea of picking up Eifert at TE, even though the Bears already signed Martellus Bennett away from the Giants. But Eifert is a different kind of match-up nightmare from the position, almost like a WR. And the Bears are thin at TE anyway, since both Matt Spaeth and Kellen Davis are gone.

However, Eifert is gone in this mock, and in any case, I think Trestman will reluctantly decide he can make do at TE with Bennett and pick up a development prospect later in the draft. Keeping Jay Cutler healthy is still paramount for the Bears' chances, so...

With the 20th pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears select D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama.

Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

What Trestman probably cannot do is wait for an OT.

Fluker and Watson may both be slight reaches at #20, but the need is great and nobody even close will be available at the Bears' 2nd round pick. The recent acquisition of Jermon Bushrod from New Orleans is not enough - J'Marcus Webb is an enigma who played better last season but still doesn't inspire much confidence, and he'll be competing against former Steelers legend Jonathan Scott at RT. Gabe Carimi was a 1st round pick originally drafted to play OT, but has officially been shifted inside to guard after recovering from a major knee injury. The other guard position is a big question mark, too.

Trestman will then hope that one of the middle linebackers falls to pick #50.

(By the way, my guess is that one of Warmack/Cooper makes it to #20 in the real draft next week.)

	Team	Player	Pos	School	BTSC rep
1		Star Lotulelei	DT	Utah	[Link to pick]
2		Dion Jordan	DE/OLB	Oregon	[Link to pick]
3		Sharrif Floyd	DT	Florida	[Link to pick]
4		Dee Milliner	CB	Alabama	[Link to pick]
5		Eric Fisher	OT	Central Michigan	[Link to pick]
6		Luke Joeckel	OT	Texas A&M	[Link to pick]
7		Lane Johnson	OT	Oklahoma	[Link to pick]
8		Barkevious Mingo	OLB	LSU	[Link to pick]
9		Chance Warmack	OG	Alabama	[Link to pick]
10		Jonathan Cooper	OG	North Carolina	[Link to pick]
11		Tavon Austin	WR	West Virginia	[Link to pick]
12		Xavier Rhodes	CB	Florida State	[Link to pick]
13		Ezekiel Ansah	DE	BYU	[Link to pick]
14		Cordarrelle Patterson	WR	Tennessee	[Link to pick]
15		Jarvis Jones	OLB	Georgia	[Link to pick]
16		Kenny Vaccaro	S	Texas	[Link to pick]
17		Tyler Eifert	TE	Notre Dame	[Link to pick]
18		Sheldon Richardson	DT	Missouri	[Link to pick]
19		Bjoern Werner	DE	Florida State	[Link to pick]
20		D.J. Fluker	OT	Alabama	ddoubleday
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