DA Grade: Phil Emery's First Bears Pick in the 2012 NFL Draft

Phil Emery's first draft as the Chicago Bears GM is officially in the books. It was definitely a surprising draft. I wouldn't be able to give this draft an official grade for a couple years but I will do my best to give each pick a grade and I will give the overall draft a grade based on my opinion. Today we will look at his first pick:

First Round:  Shea McClellin, DE

My first reaction: WTH, Who?

Then I started watching the tape. I currently reside in New Mexico but I have grown up in the Chicagoland area as a Bears fan. The good thing about living in New Mexico now I get to follow the Mountain West College conference (not sure it's a good thing), but I do remember watching this kid a couple times. I also saw him best fit as a LB but I started to think about this pick. Did Phil Emery just waste his first pick on an eventual replacement for Urlacher? The announcement came in he will play DE opposite of Peppers.

My Grade: A-

There were better options at the position. Also, DeCastro was still available. He would've given the Bears a better OL. I thought about this for over a week and realized I really like the pick. I like it because the bears have Urlacher, Roach, and Briggs as LBs. They have Idonije right now. Some knock his skill but I don't think he is that bad. Shea can come in and sit as LB or DE. His speed is awesome coming in as the second fastest DE in the draft. If they want to keep Idonije in to help stop the run then they can use McClellin as a LB. I do not see teams double teaming Peppers with this kid on the board. MCClellin isn't a small kid. He is a 6'3 258 lb workhorse. He clocked a 4.63 40 yard dash.

There have been rumors that the Green Bay Packers really wanted this kid. With Chicago drafting him it leaves Green Bay without a top choice if the rumors are true. Watch this Youtube video posted by TheShaq81 of Shea's highlights here.

The kid looks to be a beast. I liked him going against Georgia's OL. It showed he could handle the bigger guys. I feel better with this pick over my original pick of Q. Coples from NC because he had some questions regarding his work ethic. I rather have a guy that I know will keep trying. I like Whitney Mercilus from Illinois but I was really worried his one year was a one year wonder. Now I don't have to worry about it. DeCastro was a available. I don't see the issue with the bears OL.  Martz had Cutler dropping back more then 5 steps holding the ball. With the speed of these defenses now adays all OLs are going to have issues. Lets give it a chance and see how it goes with a healthy OL and a new OC in tice. I am looking forward to this year...BEAR DOWN, CHICAGO BEARS!