Bears don't lack options at cornerback

The late-March addition of unrestricted free agent Alan Ball gives the Bears some needed quality veteran depth at cornerback behind starters Kyle Fuller and Tim Jennings.

The 6-foot-2, 197-pound Ball could also figure in the nickel package, playing outside while Jennings moves into the slot.

But Ball's addition won't preclude the Bears from looking to add some cornerback youth to the roster through the draft. Ball recently turned 30. and Jennings is 31 and coming off a down year after back-to-back Pro Bowl seasons.

But cornerback might not be considered a top priority, depending on how the new coaching staff regards a pair of undrafted players who showed some promise last season. Al Louis-Jean was signed as a free agent a year ago after leaving Boston College with two years of eligibility remaining. He was bypassed in the draft but played in nine games as a rookie. At 6-foot-1 and 187 pounds, he has the size NFL teams covet in cornerbacks and is just 21 years old.

Demontre Hurst, undrafted out of Oklahoma in 2013, played in 15 games last season and started twice when the Bears opened in a nickel alignment with an extra corner on the field. Hurst had an interception, a forced fumble and tied for fifth on the team with 8 special teams tackles.

Five-year veteran Sherrick McManis has been a special teams standout for the past two seasons, but probably isn't much more than that. Another 2014 undrafted rookie, Terrance Mitchell, could contend for a backup spot and a role on special teams.