After the Bears' first three draft picks Sunday morning, college scouting director Greg Gabriel came downstairs at Halas Hall and declared the defensive line was the cornerstone of the franchise.
It was this weekend, anyway. Operating without first- and second-round picks three weeks after acquiring quarterback Jay Cutler -- who could be a cornerstone himself -- the Bears prioritized defense on the second day of the draft.
They grabbed San Jose State defensive tackle Jarron Gilbert in the third round and followed it up by choosing Texas pass rusher Henry Melton in the fourth. Gilbert is athletic enough at 6-5 and 287 pounds to jump out of a pool standing up. Melton, a converted fullback who scored 10 touchdowns as a freshman, is a high-motor guy who still is learning the position. They'll be Rod Marinelli's first rookie pupils with the Bears. Continue