With their primary objective of improving the offensive line out of the way, Jerry Angelo can focus on filling his team’s other needs during Day 2 of the draft on Friday. That means the Bears general manager will be looking for defensive tackles, linebackers, receivers and perhaps another offensive lineman or two.
Gabe Carimi’s teammate at Wisconsin, guard John Moffitt, would be a welcome addition, as would Georgia guard Clint Boling and Penn State center Stephen Wisniewski, among others.
“It will be a challenge tomorrow, much more than today,” Angelo said. “Today we knew there would be a lot of quality players on the board. Tomorrow is going to be much tougher than it was today, certainly. There are players we like very much but not the numbers. In any draft you have to have some luck. No matter how much you work or how much time you put into it, some people have to fall to you. We had a little luck today with our first-round pick.”
Defensive tackles Marvin Austin of North Carolina, Stephen Paea of Oregon State and South Florida’s Terrell McClain remain undrafted. Receivers include Boise State’s Titus Young, Kentucky’s Randall Cobb and Maryland’s Torrey Smith.
“One of the primary game plans was go get an offensive lineman and then hopefully we’ll have some options,” said Angelo, who also admitted his was one of the most challenging drafts of his career. “We’ll re-group tomorrow morning, re-strategize and go over the board one more time. We’ll have options. We’re not fixated on any one position. We’re really fixed on taking players we like that we feel comfortable with and we feel can come in and help our football team win. We’re not basing it on perception or trying to be cute. You can’t do that in this draft.”
Linebackers capable of playing in the Bears’ 4-3 defense are plentiful and include former Simeon High and Illinois linebacker Martez Wilson, who has the kind of speed the Bears covet at that position.
