After falling one game short of the playoffs in 2013, the Chicago Bears are on the clock at No. 14 in our Fan Mock Draft. The options here for general manager Phil Emery are no laughing matter, with Alabama safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix going off the board to the St. Louis Rams at No. 13.
The expectation here is that the Bears will focus on defense early in the draft, which makes sense considering the gap between their offensive and defensive quality in 2013. On offense, thanks especially to a dynamic duo of wide receivers in Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery, the Bears finished tied for second in the league with 27.8 points scored per game. On the other side of the ball, however, the Bears were one of the league's most porous defenses, tying for second-worst in the league with 29.9 points allowed per game.
It seems only right, then, that Chicago focuses on rebuilding a once formidable defense. If that's the case, they'll have plenty of options, though perhaps none better than Pittsburgh defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who is as productive a player as there is in the draft. If you look past Donald's relative lack of gargantuanness, the 6-foot-1, 288-pounder would provide the Bears with some interior pass-rush punch. If it is a space-holding nose tackle the Bears are looking for, Notre Dame's Louis Nix III or Minesota's Ra'Shede Hageman could be the answer.
At linebacker, the Bears have not yet filled he obvious void left by the retirement of Brian Urlacher. Alabama's C.J. Mosley could do just that, or the Bears could opt for a different type of player in Ohio State's Ryan Shazier.
In the secondary, the Bears could use some reinforcements to improve on a pass defense that allowed 6.9 yards per pass attempt in 2013, the sixth-worst mark in the league. At cornerback, Michigan State's Darqueze Dennard, Virginia Tech's Kyle Fuller or Ohio State's Bradley Roby could be long-term replacements for the seemingly ageless Charles Tillman. Meanwhile, at safety, Louisville's Calvin Pryor would seem to pack the punch the Bears could be after, or Northern Illinois' Jimmie Ward could provide flexibility.
Finally, if the Bears choose not to take a defensive player, offensive line would seem to be the final area of need. Notre Dame's Zack Martin or Virginia's Morgan Moses are the top remaining big fellas up front.
So who will come off the board at No. 14? As always, you make the pick …
Previous Selections
**1. Houston Texans -- LB Jadeveon Clowney**
**2. St. Louis Rams -- T Greg Robinson**
**3. Jacksonville Jaguars -- QB Johnny Manziel**
**4. Cleveland Browns -- WR Sammy Watkins**
5. Oakland Raiders -- LB Khalil Mack
6. Atlanta Falcons -- OT Jake Matthews7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- WR Mike Evans8. Minnesota Vikings -- QB Blake Bortles
**9. Buffalo Bills -- TE Eric Ebron **10. Detroit Lions -- CB Justin Gilbert 11. Tennessee Titans -- DE/OLB Anthony Barr12. New York Giants -- OT Taylor Lewan13. St. Louis Rams -- S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix
