{"id":12564,"date":"2007-04-08T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2007-04-08T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thehogs.net\/blogs\/?p=12564"},"modified":"2025-06-01T11:27:59","modified_gmt":"2025-06-01T15:27:59","slug":"team-needs-chicago-bears-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/the-hogs.net\/blogs\/2007\/04\/08\/team-needs-chicago-bears-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Team Needs: Chicago Bears"},"content":{"rendered":"

Between now and the 2007 NFL Draft, THN will be taking a look at all of the NFL teams’ off-season needs. Up next is the team with the 30th overall pick in the draft, the Chicago Bears.<\/p>\n

2006 Results:<\/b> 13-3, 1st in NFC North
\n2007 Projected Cap Status:<\/b> $ 92,200,000 ($16.8 million in cap space)<\/p>\n

2006 Season Recap:<\/b><\/p>\n

The Bears capped off their dominating 13-3 season with their first trip to the Super Bowl in 21 years. Rookie Devin Hester was a special teams phenomenon for Chicago, returning three punt returns and two kickoff returns for touchdowns. His outstanding play was not limited to the regular season. He also returned the Super Bowl’s opening kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown and had a 63-yard punt return in the Pro Bowl. The Chicago area tried to stay patient with quarterback Rex Grossman during the beginning of the year but as his inconsistency increased, so did the criticism as the Bears were making a serious playoff run. The Bears were also once again led by a playmaking defense and saw career years come from wide receiver Bernard Berrian and tight end Desmond Clark. Running backs Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson were an important part of the offense, providing a strong one-two punch.<\/p>\n

Team Needs:<\/b><\/p>\n

1. Offensive Line – The starting line averages over 30 years of age. Talented thirty-five year old veteran Ruben Brown re-signed with the team but youth is needed at this position.<\/p>\n

2. Outside Linebacker – Lance Briggs may not stay in Chicago past the 2007 season and there is not much depth behind him and Hunter Hillenmeyer.<\/p>\n

3. Quarterback – Yes, Grossman got the Bears to the Super Bowl. Yes, (then rookie) Kyle Orton helped the Bears reach the Divisional Round the season before. But Grossman’s mistakes were magnified in the Super Bowl and Orton’s 2005 season was underwhelming, producing small offensive numbers. With veteran Brian Griese riding the bench, it’s uncertain who the future quarterback of this team really is.<\/p>\n

4. Running Back – The Bears traded Thomas Jones to the New York Jets. Does this open the door for Cedric Benson to step up? Or does it just create a deficit at RB?<\/p>\n

2007 Draft Picks<\/a>:<\/b>
\n1st Round – 31st Overall
\n2nd Round – 63rd Overall
\n3rd Round – 94th Overall
\n4th Round – 126th Overall
\n5th Round – 158th Overall
\n6th Round – 190th Overall
\n7th Round – 194th Overall
\n7th Round – 202nd Overall
\n7th Round – 222nd Overall<\/p>\n

Free agency status:<\/b><\/p>\n

Franchise Player:<\/i>
\nLB Lance Briggs<\/p>\n

UFA: <\/i>
\nDT Alfonso Boone
\nOG Ruben Brown
\nWR Justin Gage
\nS Todd Johnson
\nDT Ian Scott
\nS Cameron Worrell<\/p>\n

RFA:<\/i>
\nTE Gabe Reid<\/p>\n

ERFA:<\/i> None<\/p>\n

Players Lost:<\/i>
\nDT Alfonso Boone (KC); WR Justin Gage (TEN); S Todd Johnson (STL); RB Thomas Jones (NYJ); FS Cameron Worrell (MIA)<\/p>\n

Players Acquired:<\/i>
\nDT Anthony Adams (49ers)
\nS Adam Archuleta (Redskins) – Via Trade <\/p>\n

Check out more at THN’s exclusive 2007 NFL Draft section.<\/p>\n

Edit: This blog was archived in May of 2016 from our original articles database.It was originally posted by Jake Russell<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Between now and the 2007 NFL Draft, THN will be taking a look at all of the NFL teams’ off-season needs. Up next is the team with the 30th overall pick in the draft, the Chicago Bears. 2006 Results: 13-3, 1st in NFC North 2007 Projected Cap Status: $ 92,200,000 ($16.8 million in cap space) … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12564","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-nfl-draft"],"yoast_head":"\nTeam Needs: Chicago Bears | The-Hogs.net<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/the-hogs.net\/blogs\/2007\/04\/08\/team-needs-chicago-bears-2\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Team Needs: Chicago Bears | The-Hogs.net\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Between now and the 2007 NFL Draft, THN will be taking a look at all of the NFL teams’ off-season needs. 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