Beware of the Smokescreen

The mock draft posted yesterday was done assuming the Bears are being truthful with the information they are giving out this offseason.  But one thing to remember, the expressed interest in Carimi by Tice and the same interest in Paea by Marinelli was under a previous GM. 

New GM, Phil Emery, has experience in the Bears organization, but I believe you have to take into account where he came from.  He was director of college scouting for the Kansas City Chiefs.....make that he was the director of college scouting for Scott Pioli.  Word is that Pioli was extremely paranoid.  Paranoid to the point of tapping phones in the team's complex.  Not sure if that is true, my only concern is how this relates to Emery and the Bears. 

Last year, I believe the Pioli paranoia led to the Chiefs putting out a scouting smokescreen.  Before the 2011 draft, the Chiefs appeared to be all over the biggest player in the draft, that filled what was thought to be their biggest need.  That player was Phil Taylor of Baylor.  The Chiefs talked to him at the combine.  They visited his pro day.  They even brought him into Kansas City to visit..... on 2 different occasions.  So, when the Chiefs are on the clock at the 21st pick, with Taylor being clearly the best player on the board, what did the Chiefs do?  The Chiefs traded down, allowing Cleveland to take Taylor, as they waited to select Jonathan Baldwin, a player that didn't appear to be on their radar. 

On to 2012, the Bears have shown the same type of interest to Kendall Wright.  But will they pick Wright?  I think the Bears are pretty content with Brandon Marshall, as they should be.  I believe they are content enough to wait to select a WR until the mid-rounds of the draft.  The Bears have also done their homework on guys such as Marvin Jones, DeVier Posey, and Chris Owusu among others.  My prediction is the Bears will NOT select Kendall Wright, despite all the attention they have given him.  If Quinton Coples, Dre Kirkpatrick, or David DeCastro fall to 19, the Bears won't hesitate to select one.  If none are there, may be a trade down.