The amicable Augsburger and vivacious Vandermoon are competing for a pair of tickets to a Chicago Bears game this coming season. The reminder of the rule submission for this final draft day is after the break.

Note on the draft. The Bears brought nine defensive linemen into the 2013 season; four tackles and five ends. Right now you can essentially guarantee Jared Allen, Willie Young, Lamarr Houston, Nate Collins, Jay Ratliff, Ego Ferguson and Will Sutton are on that roster. (If you also include Izzy, we’re already at eight.) So…the Bears defensive front will have a significantly different look in 2014. Let’s hope Emery’s touch is as good on that side of the ball.

Names to watch today: Wisconsin running back James White, Princeton DT Caraun Reid, USC S Dion Bailey.

I shall have a full draft wrap-up on Sunday.

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Because I am a nice guy, I am moving Augsburger and Vandermoon into the final day. Both will compete tomorrow and we’ll give tickets away.

From CBS:
STRENGTHS: Has a short, compact build that gives him a natural leverage advantage over most NFL offensive linemen.

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From CBS:

STRENGTHS: Tall, well-built frame with well-proportioned bulk from head to toe. Flexible body type with natural bend, controlling his momentum well when he stays low with impressive change of direction skills for his size. Long arms and quick hands, using his strong limbs to press and lock out.

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Note: As far as I can tell, three people accurately predicted Kyle Fuller as the Bears first round draft pick: Austin Augsburger, Brian, Scott Vandermoon. Each of those three individuals should drop me an email today to confirm ownership of that account (jeff@dabearsblog.com) and then be sure to get their position selections in for tonight. You can’t win this contest if you don’t make it to tomorrow!

CONTEST PICKS SHOULD BE MADE ON THIS POST. THE NEXT UPDATE TO THE SITE WILL BE AFTER THE BEARS SECOND ROUND SELECTION.

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I received many emails and Tweets last night asking me the same question: why would Phil Emery pass on the position of desperation (safety) and select a cornerback? Why would the Bears not grab the ballyhooed Clinton-Dix or Pryor when they already have their two starting corners for 2014 on the roster?

Here are my answers to that and some other things:

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Kyle Fuller is the newest addition to the Chicago Bears.

Thoughts and information on Fuller:

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DaBearsBlog has given away tickets to a Bears game each of the past two seasons – through the draft party at Cortland’s Garage in 2012 and through our Ditka Lookalike party in Wicker Park this past December. (We’ll be doing another charitable event this fall. We’re still working through details.)

This year we are instituting a rather unique and interesting draft contest. It is also quite difficult.

Here are the rules.

HOW TO SUBMIT

In the comments below, simply type CONTEST: before making your selection. I can not shuffle through all of the commentary for your picks. This will enable me to run through the comments quickly.

ROUND ONE

In order to stay alive in this contest, you have to guess the first round selection of the Chicago Bears correctly. Quite simple. Guess the player.

Note: If the Bears trade out of the first round, all those submitting first round entries will advance.

Submission Example: 

CONTEST: Calvin Pryor

SELECTION IS DUE IN THE COMMENTS SECTION BY 7:00 PM CT THURSDAY EVENING. NO LATE SELECTIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED.

ROUNDS TWO & THREE

In order to make it to Saturday in this contest, you have to get the positions of both the Bears second and third round selections correct. You do not have to guess the players. You merely have to guess the positions.

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Because I wanted to have fun with it, here is what I would do throughout the first round of the NFL Draft if I ran every team. This is not a mock draft. I don’t know what any of these teams think about any player and I mostly don’t care.

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1. Houston Texans 

TRADE! The Texans deal the first pick to the Oakland Raiders for free ferry transportation to and from Alcatraz and a box of autographed Jose Canseco photographs.

1. OAKLAND RAIDERS select Jadeveon Clowney.

Why? Because I’ve been an unmitigated disaster as GM in Oakland and a gutsy move like this would at least enable me to put my stamp on the organization. If I come out of this draft with a potential All Pro DE and my chosen quarterback at the top of the second round, I’ll be smiling Monday morning and perhaps buy myself an additional year in charge to develop the young talents.

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2. ST. LOUIS RAMS (from Washington Redskins) select Greg Robinson.

Why? Because I would think the Rams are close and I don’t think Johnny Manziel could survive four games against the Niners and Seahawks in his rookie campaign. Bradford might not be my guy long-term but I believe I can win with him if my offensive line matches the strength of my defensive line.

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3. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS select Khalil Mack.

Why? Because I hired Gus Bradley to build the Seahawks defense in Jacksonville and I don’t believe in this theory that a flashy-named QB sells tickets. Winning sells tickets. We’re not winning anything this year. I’m giving my head coach the best toy available and seeing what he does with it.

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4. Cleveland Browns

TRADE! The Browns deal the fourth pick to the Buffalo Bills for wings from the Anchor.

4. BUFFALO BILLS select Sammy Watkins.

Why? Because I have a solid group on defense and need playmakers. Watkins is the best playmaker in this draft and a perfect compliment to Robert Woods, who looked like a budding star a year ago in Buffalo. I’ve decided to build the fastest team in my division and take my chances.

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5. HOUSTON TEXANS (from Oakland Raiders) select John Pigskin.

Why? Because it’s just the Texas thing to do and there are few coaches in the league better suited to Manziel’s molding and demeanor than Bill O’Brien. And because I’ve gotten a nice package for the first overall selection, the risk is mitigated. 

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I’m not much for draft guessing or mock drafting as it’s known in the sports media biz. And when it comes to the Chicago Bears under Phil Emery it is sometimes easier to try and pinpoint the proper questions as opposed to searching for the elusive answers.

Question #1

Does Kony Ealy fit the Emery mold as a first round draft pick? 

Here is what I think we should look for when trying to figure the direction Emery might venture in the first round: physically gifted athlete, versatile, projected to go 10 or so picks after the Bears are slotted. With the discussion of Ealy being evaluated as a DE who can slide inside to the three-tech, the buzz is starting to grow that he may be featured at a Halas Hall press conference early next week.

Question #2

Is Emery serious about ignoring developmental quarterbacks?

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Chris Borland, ILB, Wisconsin

• If Borland did not have serious medical concerns surrounding the possibility of a third surgery, I truly believe he could have snuck his way into the tail end of the first round.
• His size draws comparisons to Zach Thomas and that is EXACTLY who he plays like. There is not a linebacker in this draft who does a finer job at sniffing out the ball carrier and closing on him. When you watch Borland, you see a man born to play middle linebacker. And born middle linebackers belong in Chicago.
• ESPN’s Brian Bennett did a brilliant profile of Borland in October. One of my favorite quotes: “There are times when he’ll make a big play at practice, and then as he’s jogging back, he’ll do a backflip,” defensive coordinator Dave Aranda said. “That’s Chris.” Read the entire profile by CLICKING HERE.
• Borland’s style of play suggests that even if he struggled at LB he could be one of the best special teams men in the sport.
• From a human perspective, a rooting perspective, there is not a player in this draft I’d be happier to see in a Bears uniform.

De’Anthony Thomas, RB/WR/KR, Oregon

• Bears have three “offensive production” needs: Forte backup/scat back, speed threat on the outside and kick returner. Thomas fills all three needs with one body. (Though I’m not sure how many carries I’d give him.)

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Why I love starting my draft focus with the Scott Wright conversation (to hear the entire conversation, scroll down or CLICK HERE) is he tends to send me down some paths I otherwise would have ignored.

About midway through our chat I asked Scott a question he hadn’t been asked in his rounds of interviews. I wanted him to give me “an Emery reach” – a player with remarkable physical tools, at a Bears need position, who’d be considered a value 10-15 picks later. He paused, thought a bit and gave me Washington State safety Deone Buccanon.

Here is a well-written scouting report Ricky Henne at Chargers.com:

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