The 2015 NFL Draft is just over two weeks away, and there's plenty of intrigue over what the draft's new host town will do with the No. 7 overall selection.
With a new head coach, new general manager, and an impatient fanbase wanting to get back to the playoffs, the Bears could go a number of directions in order to fill holes along the depth chart. NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah has one player in mind who matches the franchise's needs and should be available at pick No. 7.
"At No. 7, when you talk about a great fit, Danny Shelton was made to play the nose tackle in that defense," Jeremiah said on a conference call on Monday. "He would be a perfect, perfect fit."
Shelton would fill a big hole in the middle of Chicago's new-look defense, run by coordinator Vic Fangio and head coach John Fox. Widely regarded as the top interior defensive lineman in the draft not named Leonard Williams, Shelton has long been considered a potential top-10 pick after a strong senior season at Washington, and he's gathered momentum throughout the pre-draft process, including good showings at the Senior Bowl and NFL Scouting Combine.
Recent NFL.com mock drafts do not have Shelton landing with the Bears, whose other needs could take precedence. In fact, NFL Media analyst Charles Davis said another position makes more sense for the team following the trade of Brandon Marshall to New York.
"The Bears could very well be open for business at No. 7 with a wide receiver," Davis said. "That wouldn't surprise us at all in order to pair somebody with Alshon Jeffrey, something they had with Brandon Marshall, and would allow them to get Jay Cutler back on the beam."
Among the top receivers the Bears could consider are Alabama's Amari Cooper, West Virginia's Kevin White, and Louisville's DeVante Parker. Whether the Bears opt to address their need on offense or along the defensive line remains to be seen, but plenty of impact players will be available when it's their turn to pick in the first round.
You can follow Bryan Fischer on Twitter at @BryanDFischer.
