No matter what time of year it is, in season or offseason, Bears fans are always trying to figure out what they need to do to win a championship. Being the son of the greatest Chicago Bear of them all, it is Bears talk 24/7 and I love it. Of course, with the draft coming up, everyone wants to know, “What do the Bears need to address in the draft?” Finishing the season ranked 30th in yards given up and points per game, a big focus should be on the Bears defense. Now that we have confirmation that the Bears will be switching over to a 3-4 defense, it’s vital to draft guys that will fit the scheme.

Looking at the draft picks left over from the Emery/Trestman regime, Ryan Pace will have his hands full to put a roster together that will ready to win in 2015. The NFC North is getting very competitive and the way the Packers, Lions and Vikings are drafting, the Bears cannot miss on this draft. The time is now if they want to keep up with the Joneses.

Last year the Bears went out and spent free agent money on Lamarr Houston, Jared Allen and Willie Young to boost the D-line. Now that the 3-4 defense has landed at Halas Hall, how do Jared Allen and Willie Young fit into what Vic Fangio is trying to accomplish? The Bears have some flexibility with cash that they can spend in free agency. What are the biggest needs of this Bears team? In no particular order, these are the areas the Bears need to address.

Quarterback

“Jimmy Clausen and David Fales are not a long term solution at the position.”

No matter how you feel about Jay Cutler, with the current QB’s on the roster, he gives you the best chance to win right now. I know that sounds crazy, but it’s true. Hate to break it to you, but Jimmy Clausen and David Fales are not a long term solution at the position. After John Fox and Ryan Pace spoke to the media at the NFL Combine, they are not ruling out a divorce with Cutler. No matter what happens next year, the Bears should look to select a QB in this year’s draft. Only problem there is a big drop off after the top 3 prospects. Could a guy like Bryce Petty be there for the Bears in the 4th round? The only thing that scares me is he never huddled up in college. That means he will need some time to get adjusted to running a pro-style offense. Petty could sit and learn the offense behind Cutler this upcoming season before getting his opportunity to take over. No matter what, the Bears need to select a QB in this year’s draft.

Safety

“The Bears need some type of stability at the position.”

The safety position has been a revolving door for years now and the Bears need some type of stability at the position. The big question that Bears fans are asking is what is going to happen to Chris Conte? For a guy that takes so much heat from Bears fans, he was the best at the position for the Bears last season, when he was healthy. Staying on the field seems to be the biggest issue for Conte. Ryan Mundy looked to be an upgrade heading into last season. In the short term he was, but became a liability against the pass. The jury is still out on how good Brock Vereen can get. Looking at the top safeties coming out this year, Alabama’s Landon Collins is the only one projected to go in the 1st round. Can the Bears pass up on him if he’s there with the 7th pick? We all will have to wait and see.

Linebacker

“The position still has many questions that need to be answered.”

If you look at the LB position for the Bears, they could be losing two to three of their staring rotation from last season. Lance Briggs and DJ Williams are highly unlikely to return. And, there is still the question mark out there about Shea McClellin and if he can turn things around under this new Bears regime. Switching to the 3-4 defense changes the vision for the position with the current roster. I feel like Christian Jones and David Bass could fit the new scheme. Will the real Jon Bostic please stand up? Can Bostic be the guy on the inside calling all the plays and running the show on the defensive side? The position still has many questions that need to be answered. Some mock drafts I’ve seen have the Bears selecting Miami LB Denzel Perryman and I would have no problem with that.

Cornerback

“This position is a little too thin.”

I said in my “Down and Distance” podcast that I need more out of Tim Jennings this year. For a guy that has been to the Pro Bowl, I need him to get back to the INT machine he was a few years ago. It may be even harder for him to get there after coming of a knee scope this offseason. The reality is that Jennings is going to be 32 years old this year. I’ve said this before people, you can’t beat father time…he always wins. Kyle Fuller had a great start last season, but had a tough time battling through some injuries late in the year. I believe he will be a stud for years to come with the Bears organization. The big question is will Charles Tillman be back in a Bears uniform next season? From what I hear, it’s not sounding good. Having this conversation makes me think that this position is a little too thin when you look at the great wideouts in the NFC North.

Ryan Pace has his work cut out for him, but it’s nothing he can’t handle. Pace is a guy that understands how to play his role. He is a film rat and loves evaluating talent. Figuring out the current roster and navigating this year’s draft is going to be big for the future of this ball club. I do feel that fixing the defense is the main concern headed into the draft. Watching the evolution of the offenses in the NFC North, having a tough-nosed defense is a must. I’m very anxious to see what the Bears do with the 7th overall pick. Once that domino drops, we will have a better idea of where the Bears are headed. #BearDown