The Bears made it all the way to the NFC Championship game last year, but they have more holes to fill than a team that made it that far should. They have an excellent foundation, but they need to plug up a few problem areas to make sure they get better next year, instead of regress. The biggest hole(s) they will need to fill is along the offensive line, where they can use help at almost every position.
That's why SB Nation has given the Bears Miss St. OL Derek Sherrod in their last few editions of the 2011 NFL Mock Draft, and that trend continues this week. Here is what they have to say.
For whatever reason, Sherrod isn't highly valued amongst the draftniks out there. He's an instant starter at left tackle in Chicago.
While I agree that Sherrod is probably a better prospect than this drafting position, I don't think he is quite good enough to start from day one. Very few offensive lineman are that good, and you can't expect to get one this late in the first round. But immediate expectations aside, this is a great chance for the Bears to get some much needed help up front.