Top Ten NFL draft prospects for the Bears

While the NFL Draft is not until April, the deadline for underclassmen who decided to leave school early and enter the draft came last Friday. The Bears have the 18th pick of the draft and to be totally honest, I don't like any of the guys that are scheduled to fall to them. Personally, after Taylor Mays crushed my heart and decided to stay, I concluded that the Bears should really try and trade their pick to the highest bidder.
But seeing as how it is low-risk Angelo at the helm, odds are that won't happen. So below are ten guys Chicago should try to acquire.

**NOTE** Excluded are players like Crabtree, Stafford and Curry, guys who will surely be gone by the time the Bears pick. This list will probably be re-done at least once a month until the actual draft.

10. Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia Tech
The Bears did not get to the quarterback enough this season. While both Brown and Ogunleye did shine on occasion, it just wasn't enough. Johnson's stock has fallen in the past few months because of his toughness and speed, but this would not be the worst decision.

9. Percy Harvin, WR, Florida
My fellow TTCSers know my thoughts on receivers. There is no way that any of them not named Michael Crabtree are going to make huge contributions to this team. However Harvin is a playmaker, and while the Bears have Devin already, two big-play guys could be what is needed for a quarterback like Orton to succeed.

8. Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland
After Crabtree, I think that DH-B has a chance to be the best wideout in the draft. I would take him over both Harvin and Maclin for the reason that while the three of them are speedsters, Darrius is the only one with some height to him (nearly 6' 2"). The Bears are going to need a target man, and this could be the guy.

7. Brian Cushing, OLB, USC
I know he is not that bad, but I just can't stand Hunter Hillenmeyer. Cushing could learn a thing or two from Briggs and is far more athletic and is a harder hitter than HH.

6. Michael Oher, Tackle, Ole Miss
Everybody who has read "The Blind Side" knows what type of athlete he is. The Bears did take Chris Williams with their first-round pick last season, and while the O-line did impress people this year, they are not any younger. The Bears could easily put Williams on the right and Oher on the left and it would not only make the line younger, but stronger and just better overall.

5. Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia
While Chicago does have a very good tailback in Forte, #22 led the NFL in carries last season. Moreno would be a great change-of-pace spell back and is a guy who runs hard despite an undersized body.

4. Rey Maualuga, MLB, USC
After a painfully mediocre season for Brian Urlacher, a feeling has come over the city that Urlacher might be past his prime. While Rey would probably not get much time in his rookie season, the hard-hitting ILB could become the future of the Bears' defense.

3. Aaron Maybin, DE, Penn St.
I talked earlier about how Chicago needs to return to the days of a continuously tough pass rush. Maybin led a Nittany Lions' defense that was the most feared in the Big 10 and one of the best in the nation.

2. Mark Sanchez, QB, USC
I don't know how many people feel Orton can really become a reliable quarterback in the NFL. I have never felt that way. While even Pete Carroll feels he left too early, the USC offense is so similar to an NFL offense that the transition would be easier for him than any prospect. I truly see him as the most likely draftee to sign with the Bears.

1. William Moore, Safety, Missouri
I had this spot reserved for my boy Mays like I stated earlier in this post. Moore is not quite as ready as the USC safety, but he would relieve what I feel is the weakest part of the Bears in the team's safety play.