Here are 4 candidates the Bears might take in first round

Unlike several other teams searching for a new quarterback, the Bears are in a good position to select a valuable player in the first round of the NFL Draft on April 26.

This year’s draft conversation has been dominated by quarterbacks, but the Bears filled their quarterback void last season after drafting Mitch Trubisky.

The Bears’ focus has shifted to surrounding Trubisky with the players that can help him be successful. The Bears need playmaking receivers, and they need to add help on their offensive line especially with Kyle Long recovering from his multiple surgeries and since general manager Ryan Pace didn’t pick up the $8 million option on Josh Sitton’s contract.

While some of those positions can be filled in free agency, which begins next week, the Bears will look for fresh talent in this year’s draft.

With the Senior Bowl and NFL combine behind us, here are four potential candidates the Bears could select in the first round:

Quenton Nelson, Notre Dame G

Via Sun-Times’ Patrick Finley:

Josh Jackson, Iowa CB

Via Sun-Times’ Adam Jahns:

Denzel Ward, Ohio State CB

Ward is another candidate, our Adam Jahns suggested if the Bears don’t end up taking Jackson. Ward has a slightly different build than Jackson, standing at 5-foot-10 and weighing in at 191 pounds. And during the NFL Combine, he ran the 40 in 4.32 seconds.

Calvin Ridley, Alabama WR

If the Bears come out of free agency empty-handed in the wide receiver department, the Bears could draft Ridley, who caught 63 passes for 967 yards and five touchdowns last season for Alabama.