Draft Scenarios: Second Guessing

Here's how Chicago should have drafted:
1. Rashard Mendenhall RB
2. Brian Brohm QB
3. Early Doucet WR
3. Mario Manningham WR
4. Anthony Collins LT
5. Roy Schuening G
5. Johhn Sullivan C
7. Josh Barrett S
7. Erin Henderson OLB
7. Kirk Barton RT
7. Marcus Monk WR

Draft Scenarios: Targeted Picks Round #1, Pick 14

With the 14th overall pick, here is where the Bears should set their sites on April 26th. This is in order by preference, draft the highest rated player still on the board:

1. LT Ryan Clady - A solid LT who could start on opening day.
2. RB Rashard Mendenhall - A rare specimen of speed, power and game-breaking ability.
3. LT Chris Williams - A still-developing LT but definitely NFL-ready
4. OT Jeff Otah - Projects as a mauling RT with his huge size
5. OG Brendan Albert - Though some believe Albert could be a LT at the next level, that transition would take time. He'd be an opening day starter at Guard for any team.
6. LB Keither Rivers - The best LB in the draft and a possible need given Brian Urlacher's medical questions and Lance Briggs's attitude (and possible jail time).
7. QB Brian Brohm - If Matt Ryan is #1 in the draft, Brian Brohm is 1A. A solid QB with a good arm who could develop into a franchise quarterback in the NFL.
8. RB Johnathan Stewart - Coming back from turf-toe I do not like taking anyone who will be questionable heading into the season. That's why Brohm grades out ahead of Stewart.

Draft Scenarios: Clady vs. Mendenhall at #14?

Leading into Saturday's draft, we decided it would be a good idea to break down some scenarios in the 1st and 2nd round. If time allows, we'll also deal with the later rounds as well. First things first ...

Ryan Clady is a stud LT who could come in immediately and start for Chicago. Rashard Mendenhall is a phenomenal running back who could do the same. Granted, a hunchback with 5.5 speed could supplant Cedric "2-yards and a cloud of bust", but I digress. The odds are Ryan Clady does not drop this far, but if the scenario plays out ... We say pickup Clady. Picking up Clady would be two-fold boon to Chicago. First, he's a strong left tackle that could spell stability on that side of the line for years to come. Second, John Tait could move back to RT and possibly extend his career by at least a year. This would give Chicago solid bookends for the foreseeable future. Sure, Clady will struggle at times as a rookie, but that's why veterans like Olin Kreutz get paid the big bucks to help these young guys transition and know when to bail them out. Sure, I'd love the homerun threat Mendenhall, but Clady is the 2nd best OT on the board and after Sam Baker and Gosder Cherilus (both late 1st to early 2nd-round picks) the tackle positions drop off while there are still many good running backs on the board into the fourth round.