It's no secret, Bears thinking RB, TE with higher picks
CHICAGO - With the 87th, 126th, 162nd, 222nd and 238th picks in this year's draft, the Bears will be hoping that a running back or tight end might be among the best players available.
But they will have to fit a certain mold. Not just any good football player will do.
At running back, the Bears will be looking for speed and, even more than that, explosiveness.
In Matt Nagy's offense, ideally a back can line up in the backfield in either shotgun or with the QB under center and at times either split wide or in the slot.
He needs to be a threat between the tackles, outside, on the jet sweep or in the passing game.
Most importantly, he needs to have the potential to hit home runs or at least rip off big chunks with regularity.
The Bears already have an outstanding move tight end in Trey Burton and a decent and improving line blocker in Adam Shaheen.
What they need now is a guy who can do both and line up in 12 personnel (2 WRs, 2 TEs, 1 RB) allowing them to either throw or run depending on the defense.
Who just might be the best fits for the Bears at various stages of the draft?
Penn State's Miles Sanders (5-11, 211) may be the best back in this draft and could very well go in the first round, or he could still be there at 87. Most likely he is hanging around at 50 to 55, and the Bears would have to consider a move up to get him.
Memphis' Darrell Henderson (5-8, 208) and Texas A&M's Trayveon Williams (5-8, 206) are next on my Bears wish list, and one or both should be there at 87.
Williams is probably my favorite in this group. It's conceivable he could even be there at 126, but I highly doubt that.
Both are a bit lighter than you'd like but otherwise check all the boxes.
Temple's Ryquell Armstead (5-11, 220) and Nebraska's Devine Ozigbo (5-11, 222) are my fallback guys, projects but each with some special traits and both most likely available in the fifth round but gone in the seventh.
At tight end, there should be at least four, maybe five off the board before 87, but if San Diego State's Kahale Warring, (6-5, 252) is still there, he's my first choice for the Bears at 87 over any of these guys except Sanders. It's just hard to envision him lasting past 60 to 65.
Texas A&M's Jace Sternberger (6-4¾, 250) is likely to be there at 87 and could be a good fit. If we're talking fifth round, look at Utah State's Dax Raymond (6-5, 255) or maybe LSU's Foster Moreau (6-4, 253).
There are of course a number of other quality prospects at both positions, and the Bears probably will be looking at cornerbacks, safeties, interior offensive linemen and edge rushers as well.
But a haul that includes Warring and Williams just might fit them like a glove.
@Hub_Arkush