Here’s a look at the perceived draft needs of the Chicago Bears, with heavy input from Matt Miller and David Gardner of NewEraScouting.com.     

Offensive tackle:  The Bears struggled on offense last year due in large part to poor line play.  Left tackle John Tait is better suited to the right side.  Tait might very well end up there, given Fred Miller’s release after a dreadful 2007 season.  Ideally, the Bears will find a game-ready left tackle in the draft.  Typically, such left tackle are available only in round one.

Depth is also an issue; like the Broncos, the Bears have only two tackles on the entire roster.

By the time the Bears pick, Michigan’s Jake Long and Boise State’s Ryan Clady will be long gone.  Chris Williams of Vanderbilt and Jeff Otah of Pitt will be the best options, even if No. 14 (the dreaded Darrelle Revis slot) is technically too high for either of them.

Quarterback:  The Bears historically have been unsettled at the quarterback position.  A couple of years ago, it looked like things might change.  But Rex Grossman has regressed, and is at most a short-term answer.  Ditto for Kyle Orton.

Beyond those two, the Bears have no one.  Though it’s unlikely that they’ll use a first-round pick on a quarterback, it might be wise to pull the trigger in round two, if Chad Henne of Michigan is still lurking on the board.

Receiver:  The Bears had one of the worst receiving corps in the league last season, and they let their best player at the position leave via free agency.  Speedster Bernard Berrian (who has never even had a 1,000-yard season) will be playing with division rival Minnesota next season.

So who do the Bears have?  Free-agent acquisitions Marty Booker (who was actually the Bears’ third-round pick in 1999) and Brandon Lloyd (who hasn’t been a reliable no. 2 since he left San Francisco) are stop-gaps at best, and Rashied Davis, Mark Bradley, Mike Haas are journeymen.

The only people scared of these guys are Bears fans.

Devin Hester remains an intriguing option, but unless and until he can run something other than a “go” route he’ll be nothing more than a gimmick.

The Bears are believed to be interested in Earl Bennett, who would be a great value with their second-pick. The Vandy product is an excellent route-runner, and he isn’t afraid to make tough catches over the middle.

Running back:  The Bears had three running backs last season who shared the majority of the carries – Cedric Benson, Adrian Peterson, and Garrett Wolfe.  Each averaged less than four yards per carry.

Some of that can be attributed to the offensive line struggles, but most of it is the lack of talent among the tailback.  Benson has been a complete bust since being taken with the fourth pick in the 2005 draft.  Because of Benson, the Bears are unlikely to invest another top pick in a running back.  Look for them to add a speedy back like Allen Patrick (Oklahoma) or Yvenson Bernard (Oregon St.) early in day two.

Guard:  Last season’s starting left guard, Ruben Brown, was released. Backup Terrence Metcalf struggled mightily in the starting lineup.  The Bears appear to be comfortable in giving the job to Josh Beekman, but he only played in one game last season.  The Bears still need an infusion of youth here; the line went from a group of savvy veterans in 2006 to a group in the twilight of its career in 2007.  The Bears will look early in day two for a future starter at guard, where they could select mauler Kerry Brown of Appalachian St.