jiggadhu

First I just have to mention how disgusted I am with the fact that the Bears drafted yet another defensive end. They also drafted another CB which I'm okay with but they really should have taken a QB at some point in the draft. Oh well.

1. Jeff Otah (OT - Pittsburgh) His player profile page  for the NFL combine says he compares to Max Starks and has ideal size and speed to be a left tackle.

2. Brian Brohm (QB - Louisville) - I can believe he fell to the Bears and they didn't take him. That was a dream pick for the Bears and they blew it. So, exactly who are our QBs right now?

3. Matt Forte (RB - Tulane) - I like Forte a lot and I am glad he Bears picked him, but he would have been available in the third and the Bears still get a potential franchise passer.

3. Mario Manningham (WR - Michigan) - It's not that I don't like the Harrison pick, it's that I think the Bears have already gone down one raod with a DT who has an arrest record a mile long, why another one? Manningham has the ability to turn into a legitimate #1 WR.

4. Craig Steltz (SS - LSU) - I like this pick a lot. He's like what the Bears expected Adam Archuleta to be.

5. Roy  Schuening (OG - Oregon State) - The Bears again pick oline but this time on a developmental prospect like they did with Josh Beekman last year.

5. Steve Justice (OC - Wake Forrest) - Olin Kruetz isn't getting younger a Justice is a good developmental project to groom as his replacement.

7. Marcus Griffin (FS - Texas) - The Bears still need depth at free safety.

7. Jeremy Leman (ILB - Illinois) - Who the heck is Joey LaRoque? Sounds like an adult film star name. Leman should absolutely be giventhe chance to make a roster.

7. Jonanthan Zenon (CB - LSU) - Fine Angelo you want a corner? Here you go. At least this one doesn't have a history of injuries.

7. Marcus Monk (WR - Arkansas) - One of the only other picks the Bears made that I actually liked.

Okay. This offseason has been such an utter dissapointment.

Brian Urlacher's unhappy with his contract and is holding out of training camp.

Devin Hester is unhappy with his contract though I hear the Bears are going to talk to his agent today to renegotiate his contract.

Lance Briggs, who hasn't even begun his contract yet, is unhappy with his contract. Keep in mind he JUST FREAKING SIGNED IT!!!!!!

Tommie Harris turned down what would have been a record setting contract for a DT (thanks a lot Al Davis), but he is at least participating in offseason programs.

Robbie Gould is upset with his contract.

We depserately needed oline help and did nothing in free agency to help.

On the bright side we did sign Marty Booker.

1. Rashard Mendenhall (RB - Illinois) - Unless Ryan Clady or even Chris Williams or Otah falls here, I don't think the Bears would be willing to take the next best OT, who is probably Cherilus, with the 14th pick. If they can't trade down, they'll take the best available player which is Mendenhall.

2. Anthony Collins (OT - Kansas) - If they don't go OT in round one, they definately take one here. Sam Baker may be available here but Collins definately will be.

3. Oneil Cousins (OT -UTEP) - Bears again go for a tackle here mainly because Chilo Rachal will probably already be off the board and it's not like the Bears don't need a completely new line anyways.

3. Tom Zbikowski (SS - Notre Dame) - I like Tom a lot a t this pick. It's definately about where he should go and the Bears really do need depth at the safety position. Tom will also be able to help out on special teams pretty much right away.

4. Marcus Griffin (FS - Texas) - Griffin's stock has really fallen as of lately and I'm really not sure why. I think he'll be a stud in the NFL.

5. Colt Brennan (QB - Hawaii) - The Bears have 4 QBs targeted in the draft: Joe Flacco, Chad Henne, and Paul Smith frm Tulsa. Flacco and Henne will most likely be gone by the time the Bears pick in the second and they need to go OT there anyways if they don't get on in round one. I know that the Bears were very impressed with Brennan's pro day and it probably moved him back up out of the 7th round.

6. Adarius Bowman (WR - Oklahoma State) - I like him a lot even though he did run a very slow 40 time. He is a classic possesion receiver and runs very good routes which tends to make up for the lack of speed.

7. Jeremy Leman (ILB - Illinois) - I'm glad someone in the national spolight finally gave the kid some respect.....even though it was Prisco.

7. Jonathan Zenon (CB  - LSU) - Pretty decent corner. I say why not. I mean in essence these lsat few picks are pretty much just a jump start in free agency.

7. Barry Booker (DT - Virginia Tech) - Bears need depth at DT and he's probably the best DT left. Works out nicely for both parties.

7. Devin Clark (OT - New Mexico) - The Bears need help on the oline so badly they draft a 3rd OT in the draft just to make sure they get it right.

Compensatory picks are awesome, especially when you get three of them. I don't so much care that they're in the 7th round, it still give the Bears the option to take Chances on players they wouldn't normally take chances on. I also wanted to say how very sorry I am that Heath Benedict passed away. Many of you who read this blog regularly knew that I was a big fan of Heath and I send my most sincere condolences to his family.

With that being said, here's the last mock draft I'll make before the draft.

1. Rashard Mendenhall (RB - Illinios) - So reports out of Chicago indicates that Cedric Benson's rehab is not going according to schedule and that he's lost a step. It's funny cause it's not like he was a bolt of lightning to being with. The Bears desperately need a top tier running back. Mendenhall has the running style of Benson but has better hands, more heart, faster, and just an all around better dude.

2. Sam Baker (OT - USC) - Once Baker was projected as a first round pick. Now he falls to the second. Perfect! Kind of a blessing in disguise seeing as how the Bears really, really, really, need  top tier running back. Did I mention that Cedric Benson has actually LOST A STEP?!?!?!?

3. Chilo Rachal (OG - USC) Should help the learning curve with him and Baker having played together in college. The Bears also need depth at the gaurd position in case either Beekman or Garza get hurt. In a few years he could be a quality starter.

3. Red Bryant (DT - Texas A&M) - I struggled with this pick. A lot. I know DT isn't the biggest area of concern but with RB and the oline situation squared away, it's time to start looking at the defense.

4. Jamar Adams (SS - Michigan) - Some people want Tom Zbikowski. Me? I view him as a slower version of Adam Archuleta. To me Adams is the safe pick for a SS.

5. Marcus Griffin (FS - Texas) - I really believe that he will be the steal of the draft if he falls this far. The Bears need depth at the safet position badly and I think he's the best FS in the draft after Kenny Phillips.

6. Colt Brennan (QB - Hawaii) - Everyone keeps talking about how bad the Bears QBs are. I don't happen to agree which is why  I have the Bears taking one in the 6th round. Rex Grossman in the 8 games he played last season was sacked 25 times. He had no running game to help him out. What other QB besides Peyton Manning and Tom Brady would have thrived in this situation? But the Bers do now need a third QB and someone to groom while Rex and Orton battle it out in training camp. As far as this pick goes, why not tacke a chance here in the seventh round. What do the Bears really have to lose? A 6th round pick? With all of his NCAA records, I'll take that gamble.

7. Adrian Arrington (WR - Michigan) - I honeslty think he can be better than Mario Manningham eventually. He probably would have been a higher pick if he would have waited to enter the draft.

7. Devone Bess (WR - Hawaii) It would be nice to get a receiver who is comfortable with Colt Brennan and I think Bess could actually turn into a fine receiver. He's in a similar situation with Arrington above as he too is leaving early.  He reminds me of a shorter, more sure handed Bernard Berrian

7. Barry Booker (DT - Virginia Tech) - at 6'4" 284 lb, he's a little undersized for a DT but he's also pretty fast and could be a good contributor on special teams.

7. Jeremy Leman (LB - Illinois) - He may not be the biggest LB, he may not even be the fastest, but he has heart, character, and he's one of the smartest players in the draft. He could replace Brendon Ayanbadejo very nicely on special teams.

Below are predictions based on the 2008 scheduled opponents for all NFC North teams. I'll start by ranking them in the division, their projected record and what games they should win and lose:

1. Packers (11-5 ) - Even with the loss of Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers should be able to lead (if not coast) with this team into the playoffs for their second straight divisional win. It will be close though. The team has a solid foundation but like just about everyother team in this division, it will come down to QB play.

Wins against the Bears in GB, Vikings in GB, Lions in DET, Lions in GB, Falcons in GB, Panthers in GB, Texans in GB, Cowboys in GB, Saints in NO, Buccaneers in TB, and Titans in TN.

Losses to Bears in CHI, Vikings in MN, Seahawks in SEA, Jaguars in JAX, and Colts in GB.

2. Vikings (10-6)  - They could easily push for the division. Adrian Peterson will have to do as much as he did last year, but he will need to stay healthy in order to get the Vikes into the playoffs. Again though, Tarvaris Jackson needs to show that he has made progress or the Vikes will be completely one dimensional. I project them to go 4-2 in the division which puts them ahead of the Bears in the division depsite the same record.

Wins against Bears at MN, Lions at MN, Lions at DET, Packers in MN, 49ers in MN, Falcons in MN, Panthers in