After numerous meetings, Bears scouts were dismissed to take a break and head back home.
With the draft a week away, the Bears plan for the NFL Draft is largely in place.
“For the most part, we feel pretty good about our preparation and where we stand going into this draft,” Bears general manager Jerry Angelo said.
Team player personnel director Tim Ruskell said there are four to six players, based on grades, that could be available with the 29th overall pick.
Asked if his team would trade down, Angelo said, “If there are enough players on our board, and it makes sense, then it’s something we could consider seriously.
“We’re always going to be flexible. Trading down is easier to do.”
Meanwhile, Angelo said they are open to four positions with that top pick, although he later expanded his answer to six. My guess is, those top four positions are offensive tackle, defensive tackle, linebacker and cornerback.
But Angelo warned that the odds of hitting a “home run” aren’t as high, given that they’re at the end of the first round.
Still, his goals are the same as always.
“We want to come out of this with four starters. That’s our goal every year,” he said.
Angelo said the draft is deep at defensive tackle, and Marvin Austin of North Carolina is a player some draft analysts have projected to wind up with the Bears. But Austin has been dogged with questions about his character.
Angelo said head coach Lovie Smith and defensive line coach Rod Marinelli visited with him and that other team representatives also helped in doing due diligence on the player.
