LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) -- New Bears general manager Ryan Poles has preached patience and discipline while reshaping the team he took over in January.
With that in mind, the Bears didn't make a bold move up and into the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday evening.
Instead, Poles and his brass watched the first round – in which they didn't own a selection – unfold from their second-floor draft room at Halas Hall. Poles and the Bears can now look forward to Friday, when Chicago holds three selections – the No. 39 and No. 48 overall picks in the second round and the No. 71 spot in the third round.
In a draft that was considered to feature great disparity in evaluations, the Bears are positioned well to land a player on the second day whom they covet.
Here are the best players available who fit the Bears' needs as the start of the second round looms Friday evening.
LB Nakobe Dean, Georgia
Wouldn’t it be something to pair Roquan Smith with a fellow Georgia linebacker? Dean compares similarly to Smith and could fit well alongside him. New coach Matt Eberflus would certainly be fascinated by forming that tandem.
CB Andrew Booth Jr., Clemson
The Bears never effectively replaced Kyle Fuller at cornerback after he was released in March 2021. If they drafted Booth, Chicago would set its tandem at cornerback alongside third-year starter Jaylon Johnson. Booth had a combined five interceptions across the last two seasons with the Tigers.
WR Christian Watson, North Dakota State
At 6-foot-4 and boasting 4.36 speed, Watson is the type of dynamic target who could help Bears quarterback Justin Fields make a leap in his second NFL season. While Watson is raw and will be making a big jump from the FCS level to the NFL, he has high upside that would fit the Bears’ developmental window.
WR George Pickens, Georgia
Had Pickens not spent most of 2021 recovering from a torn ACL, he likely would've emerged as a first-round pick. He had a combined 14 touchdowns for Georgia from 2019-'20 before suffering the injury in March 2021. He also played in four games last season. Pickens would offer an exciting option for Fields.
OL Bernhard Raimann, Central Michigan
The Bears may select an offensive tackle in the second round for the second year in a row. After taking Teven Jenkins with the No. 39 overall pick in 2021, Raimann could make sense for Chicago here. The Austrian picked up football as part of a high school exchange program. He was initially a wide receiver and tight end before becoming an offensive lineman.
DE Arnold Ebiketie, Penn State
There’s an old saying in football that a team can never have enough pass rushers. Ebiketie projects better as a 3-4 outside linebacker, but perhaps the Bears see potential in him as a 4-3 defensive end. He had 9.5 sacks for the Nittany Lions last season.
CB Kyler Gordon, Washington
With voids to fill in the secondary for the Bears, Gordon would offer an option at either the outside cornerback or nickel position. He was a first-team all-Pac-12 selection last season alongside Washington teammate Trent McDuffie, a cornerback whom the Chiefs grabbed at No. 21 overall on Thursday.
WR Skyy Moore, Western Michigan
The MAC has a great track record of producing NFL receivers. The 5-foot-10 Moore is the latest standout to emerge with eye on the next level. He has 95 receptions for 1,292 yards and 10 touchdowns at Western Michigan last season.
DL Travis Jones, UConn
After parting ways with seven-year nose tackle Eddie Goldman, the Bears are seeking a long-term solution for the interior of their defensive line. The 6-foot-4, 333-pound Jones fits the billing as a run-stuffing defender up front.
CB Roger McCreary, Auburn
NFL Draft analyst Lance Zierlein compared McCreary to former Colts and current Raiders cornerback Rock Ya-Sin. Do the Bears view McCreary as similar to a player Eberflus coached in Indianapolis? If so, he’s a prospect to consider in the second round.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.