The critics would like to have had the Bears draft an offensive lineman. The Bears would like to have drafted a defensive tackle, maybe a linebacker (which they might have done with the third-round pick traded away in the Brandon Marshall deal but would you rather have a franchise wideout or a backup linebacker at this point? Easy call.)
Signing 11 undrafted college free agents brings in two tackles, one defensive tackle and a linebacker, so the need areas (perceived or otherwise) werent ignored.
And there will be other moves between now and the starts of minicamps, training camp, preseason and the regular season.
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We are currently talking to players and we are looking to add to our roster, definitely," GM Phil Emery said after the draft. Especially since our rosters limit went up to 90, were going to need some more players at all the positions. Were looking to sign a couple and keep improving that roster and keep bringing up the competitive level of that group.
But the major additions have been made -- Marshall, defensive end Shea McClellin, wide receiver Alshon Jeffery, thirdnickel safety Brandon Hardin, tight end Evan Rodriguez.
The supplements now are filling in rotations (a veteran defensive tackle) or ideally the pipeline for the future (undrafted free agent tackle James Brown from Troy). Some shuffling in an area like the offensive line is possible, even likely, but the key pieces are in the house, save running back Matt Forte contractually.
The Bears started last season with five first-year undrafted free agents on the roster, getting significant impact out of wide receiver Dane Sanzenbacher on offense and linebacker Dom DeCicco and safety Winston Venable on special teams.
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But the top three defensive ends are in place -- McClellin, Israel Idonije and Julius Peppers. The top three tackles are set -- Henry Melton, Stephen Paea, Matt Toeaina. The Bears have two ends in Idonije and Chauncey Davis who can play on the inside and the team has generally gone with seven defensive linemen active on game day.
Emery did not indicate that he felt defensive tackle promised a lot from this point on.
The problem with the defensive line position in college free agency and in the draft, its very thin, so the numbers arent there, Emery said.
The Bears first wave of college free agent signings:
RB
Alvester Alexader, Wyoming
WR
Terriun Crump, Western Illinois
Britton Golden, West Texas A&M
Chris Summers, Liberty
OT
James Brown; Troy
A.J. Greene, Albany
DT
Ronnie Cameron. Old Dominion
LB
Adrien Cole, Louisiana Tech
Ronnie Thornton, Southern Mississippi
S
Trevor Coston, Maine
Jeremy Jones, Wayne State