Season 3 - Offseason Free Agency, Draft Recaps

Unlike the offseason precursor to Season 2, where the highlights of the offseason were (aside from the #1 draft pick, outstanding (and now starting) CB Chris Armstrong) the free agent acquisitions, the Bears made little noise in free agency other than the notable losses (WR Devin Hester, CB Charles Tillman, RB Michael Bush, DT Corey Williams, DE Robert Ayers), the Bears resigned CB Tim Jennings, and franchise-tagged the senior anchor of the defense, MLB Brian Urlacher. Rumors are swirling out of Chicago that if Brian doesn't retire after this year, the team he'll play for next year won't be Da Bears. Urlacher and Chicago couldn't come to a deal, so the Bears used the franchise tag on him. The Bears drafted for both sides of the ball, consistently going for the best players on their board when available for most of the draft.

ESPN's recap of the Chicago Bears Season 3 draft shows that Chicago had an excellent draft this year. While it seems unlikely that the draft has yielded the safety help that Chicago's defense needs, the Bears still made some excellent picks. 

• With their first pick (28th overall), they chose running back Tim O'Quinn from Houston. Tim shows above average talent, and has exceptional speed, acceleration, carrying, and catching abilities, but has considerable injury risk as well. It's unlikely he'll start over Forte, but instead be the compliment as Michael Bush was, but with fresher legs and potential to start eventually.
• With their second pick (46th overall), the best player on Chicago's board was Fresno State wide receiver Daniel Toombs. Not necessarily needing another tall WR when having both B. Marshall and now-"Future Star" A. Jeffery in the WR corps, Chicago believes they strongly lucked out on scouting Daniel and finding him at this spot, and Chicago is banking on Daniel's "Deep Threat" role to fill the shoes of Devin Hester in the receiving game and possibly the return game on Special Teams as well. Toombs won't
• With their third round draft choice (74th overall), Chicago was elated to find another very talented player whom they focused their scouting efforts on, still available. They wasted no time in taking MLB Jake Scullins from Portland St. Analysts heavily praised the move, citing Scullin's above average talent, excellent potential, value in the fourth round, and the expected succession of Brian Urlacher as the future leader of the defensive squad. Scullins' speed is lacking, but his hit power and block shedding abilities made this pick a can't-miss for Chicago's drafting team. Experts expect Scullins, given Chicago's 4-3 defense, not to start immediately of course, but instead to rotate into the linebacker spot during games.