On Friday night, a foreign feeling cemented itself in Chicago: Hope. It began creeping in like a fog a year ago when the Bears traded up one spot to draft their quarterback of the future in Mitchell Trubisky, but it was clouded by the realization that the Bears gave up way too much draft capital to move up one spot in the draft order when they likely could've taken Trubisky at their original position. It nearly disappeared entirely when the Bears held firm in their belief that starting Mike Glennon over Trubisky was the right decision. Trubisky restored that initial feeling of hope when he submitted an impression audition over the final 12 games of the season, but even he couldn't overcome the Bears' hideous flaws, posting a 4-8 record as the starter. So, general manager Ryan Pace spent the offseason reconstructing the roster. On Friday night, Pace put the finishing touches on his rebuild by getting the players he so desperately needed. The result is a roster that gives the Bears real tangible hope for the first time since the early stages of the Jay Cutler era. The Bears might not turn into the 2017 Rams overnight like some have speculated, but they're finally on track to make their way back into the playoffs for the first time since 2010. With their first three picks in the 2018 NFL Draft -- No. 8, No. 39, and No. 51 -- the Bears selected inside linebacker Roquan Smith out of Georgia, center James Daniels out of Iowa, and wide receiver Anthony Miller out of Memphis. All three players represent tremendous value. All three players fill important needs that the Bears so desperately needed to address after free agency came and went. In Smith, the Bears are adding their new version of Brian Urlacher to a defense that is on the cusp of greatness. Under defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, who decided to remain in Chicago under new offensive-minded head coach Matt Nagy, the Bears defense finished 14th in DVOA last season. But to continue their ascent, the Bears needed to fill the holes they created when they underwent a purge of older, oft-injured contributors. read more https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/...y-fixing-three-holes-in-the-first-two-rounds/
