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Draft preview: Bears pick 7th
Posted: Saturday April 10, 1999 11:16 PM
For the next seven days, CNN/SI will offer a daily look at one pick from the 1999 draft, finishing with Cleveland. Check back for a new preview each day. Even though top pick Curtis Enis had his season cut short by injury, the Chicago Bears boasted one of the best rookie classes in the NFL last year, thanks to great drafting in the later rounds. Enis' numbers were unimpressive -- 497 yards and no touchdowns before he tore ligaments in his knee in the ninth game of the year. But safety Tony Parrish and tight end Alonzo Mayes started every game, and quarterback Moses Moreno made the team as a seventh-round pick. This year, Chicago fans want a quarterback with the seventh pick, with most of the prayers centering on Syracuse's Donovan McNabb, who lives close to Chicago. Unfortunately, all indications are that McNabb will be gone long before the seventh pick, which could send the Bears in several directions. Best bet for No. 8 Chicago still needs a quarterback, and the seventh pick should give them their choice of Central Florida's Daunte Culpepper or UCLA's Cade McNown. And even though that would likely be the fourth quarterback taken in the draft, it still would be good enough to contend for the starting job, with oft-injured Erik Kramer as the only serious competition. With Enis and Kramer healthy and Pro Bowl tackle Blake Brockermeyer now on the left side, the Bears offense should be much improved. Chicago could justify making defense a priority in the draft and finding a quarterback such as Ohio State's Joe Germaine in the second or third round.
The Bears have other needs they can address, for certain. Chicago tied the NFL low with just 28 sacks last year, and free agents Clyde Simmons and Jamal Duff won't do much to improve on that number. Marty Carter signed with the Falcons, leaving a hole at strong safety in a young secondary. If the Bears want an improved pass rush, Florida's Jevon Kearse might be the answer, though Southern Cal linebacker Chris Claiborne might be a better all-around player. Claiborne could be a future cornerstone of the Bears defense, able to stop the run and still drop back against the pass. Next to cornerback Champ Bailey, Claiborne is probably the safest pick in the draft, and as long as the Colts get caught up in the Ricky Williams trade talk and overlook the Trojan, look for Chicago to upgrade its defense by making him its top pick. Click here if you have a question or comment about the upcoming NFL Draft. We'll answer a few questions and publish selected comments once a week between now and April 17.
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