Bears Flub Trade, Still Get Their Guy

Good fortune smiled on the Bears during the first round of Thursday night's draft, as they botched a trade with the Baltimore Ravens, but still got their man in Wisconsin tackle Gabe Carimi.

As the draft wore on, offensive linemen Nate Solder, Danny Watkins and Anthony Castonzo were picked off the board, but the Bears got antsy as their pick neared. They tried for a trade with the Baltimore Ravens, who were one spot ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs, who were also thought to be taking an O-linemen. The trade never happened, but the confusion did cause the Ravens to miss their pick.

The Chiefs knew who they wanted, so they moved ahead of the Ravens and picked Jonathan Baldwin, a wideout from Pittsburgh. The Ravens, who had dropped a spot due to their pick expiring, took Jimmy Smith, a cornerback from Colorado. The Saints then traded with the Patriots to pick Alabama running back Mark Ingram.

This led to the Bears pick at 29. Somehow, Carimi, one of their favorites from the beginning, was still on the board. Chicago wasted no time in getting their pick in, announcing the pick through Twitter before Ingram had even walked on the stage.

Carimi, a 6-foot-7, 327-lb. tackle for the Badgers, was coveted by offensive line coach Mike Tice. His confidence and polished style won him fans, and he should make an instant impact to the Bears trouble offensive line.