The Chicago Bears and their fans have waited nearly three months since the 2010 NFL season ended with a close loss in the NFC Championship game. That NFL Draft countdown will end on Thursday night, as we'll all finally get another taste of football with the start of the 2011 NFL Draft in Radio City Music Hall.
Provided there isn't a surprise trade, the Bears will have to wait a bit longer than most teams to make their first selection -- the curse of a successful season. Chicago's first draft pick is 29th overall in the first round, and the Bears are slated to make six selections over the three-day affair. The Carolina Panthers have the first overall selection, projected by most NFL Mock Drafts to be quarterback Cam Newton from Auburn. The Minnesota Vikings are the first team from the NFC North scheduled to make a draft selection, picking 12th in the first round.
Here's a rundown of the Bears' NFL Draft Order:
Round 1, Pick 29
Round 2, Pick 30 (62nd overall)
Round 3, Pick 29 (93rd overall)
Round 4, Pick 30 (127th overall)
Round 5, Pick 29 (160th overall)
Round 6, Pick 30 (195th overall)
The Bears used their 2011 seventh-round pick in last year's NFL Supplemental Draft, snagging running back Harvey Unga from BYU.
SBNation.com has the complete NFL Draft order and much more coverage of this three-day affair.
The first round of the 2011 NFL Draft starts at 7 p.m. (CT) on Thursday, April 28, and SB Nation has everything you need to prepare: NFL mock drafts, draft projections, scouting reports and more. Check it out at SB Nation's NFL Draft page and our NFL Draft blog, Mocking the Draft. Also be sure to visit our friends at Windy City Gridiron.