SVM-SS4_04232016

BEARS DRAFT PREVIEW Since 1967

APRIL 22-24, 2016

P R O F O O T B A L LW E E K LY. C O M

OPTIONS APLENTY AT NO. 11 HUB ARKUSH: BEARS FIRST PICK LIKELY TO BE ON OFFENSIVE OR DEFENSIVE LINE / 2

w h a t’s i n s i d e

‘The List’: We select the top five draft classes in Chicago Bears history / 3 Updated: Team depth chart / 5 Kevin White

Mock drafts: Full first-round mock and seven-rounder for the Chicago Bears / 10-11

GM Ryan Pace

Bears 1st pick likely an ‘O’ or ‘D’ lineman With the opening round of the 2016 NFL Draft now just days away, it’s time to take stock of how far the Bears have come in their first full year-plus under Ryan Pace and John Fox and see if we can’t figure out what they’re going to be focusing on this coming Thursday through Saturday.

At the NFL owners meetings in Florida a few weeks ago, Bears Chairman George McCaskey explained his satisfaction with the first year under his new football regime.

“They’ve [Pace and Fox] energized the building,” McCaskey said.

“They’ve surrounded themselves with positive and capable people.

We’ve got the structure in place. We just need to continue to add players who are guys who can make a difference in the fourth quarter.”

The perception going into last season was that the offense might just be pretty good, but the defense would need work. Yet the Bears drafted Kevin White, Hroniss Grasu, Jeremy Langford and Tayo Fabuluje to further bolster the offense and added only Eddie Goldman and

FROM THE EDITOR

By HUB

ARKUSH

harkush@chicagofootball.com @Hub_Arkush

Adrian Amos on defense.

The Bears enter this year’s draft off a season in which they were 11th running the football, 23rd passing, 21st in offense and 23rd in points scored. They’re also looking to replace starters Matt Forte and Martellus Bennett.

The 2015 defense actually performed slightly better, finishing 22nd against the run, 4th against the pass, 14th in total defense and 20th in points allowed. The ‘D’ already has added three likely starters via free

agency in inside linebackers Danny Trevathan and Jerrell Freeman and five-technique Akiem Hicks.

Last year’s focus in the draft was infrastructure. This year, it’s playmakers.

The only positions the Bears seem likely to ignore in the first few rounds are quarterback, wide receiver, tight end – due to a lack of quality prospects more than need – and linebacker.

With right tackle Bobby Massey the only significant addition on offense in free agency, it’s impossible to rule out the Bears taking a running back or offensive lineman high.

The Bears have a clear need for at least one starter at defensive end and maybe two, and Fox concedes the secondary may need work as well.

“I think Kyle’s [Fuller] got room for improvement like we all do,” Fox said. “I think it’s in there, just like our team. We were good in spots; we have to learn how to be good consistently. He’s developing and learning what that is, not resisting.”

Fox also admits Antrel Rolle

might need competition. Asked what Rolle has left, Fox said, “It’s hard to say. These guys go away and they’re not in your eyesight for a while and it’s always interesting to see how they come back.

“Obviously, Antrel is one of our more veteran players, brought great leadership to our defensive team when he was available, and even when he wasn’t available [to play] he was always there with his experience.”

The Bears’ demands are easy to spot, but the supply is a lot trickier to value.

Running back Ezekiel Elliott and the top two cornerbacks, Jalen Ramsey and Vernon Hargreaves III, likely will be gone when the Bears pick. If one isn’t, they might pounce.

There are no safeties worthy of the 11th pick. Between offensive tackles Ronnie Stanley and Jack Conklin and defensive linemen DeForest Buckner, A’Shawn Robinson and Sheldon Rankins, at least one and possibly two or three will be available. It is from that pool the Bears first pick is most likely to come.

BY THE

NUMB3RS

9

Total number of picks the Bears have in the 2016 NFL Draft, with an additional selection in both the fourth and sixth rounds.

8

The number of times the Bears have picked 11th overall, where they will draft in this year’s first round.

2010

The last time the Bears were slated to draft No. 11 overall.

They traded it as part of a package to acquire QB Jay Cutler.

Pro Football Weekly is produced by Shaw Media, the Daily Herald Media Group and the Chicago Sun-Times in partnership with other Illinois newspapers.

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ProFootballWeekly.com • April 22-24, 2016

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3

Richard Dent

By

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY

ProFootballWeekly.com @PFWeekly

Our choice for the top Bears draft class ever really isn’t all that difficult.

In 1983, the Bears had the greatest draft in franchise history – period. Take away the Bears’ monster draft class of 1983, and you might as well take away the teams’ lone Super Bowl championship a few years later.

1. 1983 You’ve heard of hits and misses in the NFL draft? How about hits and hits and hits, topped off with a Hall of Fame hit?

The draft was 12 rounds back then, and the Bears’ first eight picks went like this: Round 1, No. 6: Jimbo Covert, offensive tackle Round 1, No. 18: Willie Gault, wide re-

ceiver

Round 2, No. 33: Mike Richardson, de-

fensive back

Round 3, No. 64: Dave Duerson, defen-

sive back

Round 4, No. 91: Tom Thayer, guard Round 4, No. 107: Pat Dunsmore, tight

end

Round 8, No. 203: Richard Dent, defen-

sive end

Round 8, No. 219: Mark Bortz, guard

Unbelievable. Seven of those first eight picks went on to play at least 90 games in the NFL, with Dunsmore (27 games) proving to be the only exception. The group combined for 153½ sacks, 48 interceptions, 351 catches and 45 receiving touchdowns, not to mention the countless blocks that Covert, Thayer and Bortz helped to set for all-time great Walter Payton. And then there was the nearly perfect 1985 season and Super Bowl XX championship. Did we mention this was an easy choice?

AP file photo

4. 1975

2. 1961 One word: Dit-kaaa. Unless that’s two words. Is that two words? Either way, the Bears’ class of 1961 included eight players whose NFL careers spanned at least 70 games.

3. 1965 The Bears had two picks in the top four selections, and they nailed both of them: Dick Butkus at No. 3 overall and Gale Sayers at No. 4 overall. So what if many of their other 18 picks that year didn’t make much noise in the NFL?

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With the fourth pick in the NFL draft, the Chicago Bears select … Walter Payton, running back, Jackson State. That tells you all you need to know.

5. 2003 What, you thought that we’d neglect the 21st century? Pssh. The Bears’ class of 2003 started off bumpy – see: Michael Haynes and Rex Grossman – but recovered with a pair of tremendous value picks, Charles Tillman in Round 2 and Lance Briggs in Round 3.

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PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | April 22-24, 2016 • ProFootballWeekly.com

PFW picks the Bears top 5 draft classes ever

ProFootballWeekly.com • April 22-24, 2016

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As draft looms, Bears ‘on our way’ Chicago buys whole lot of freedom with strong free-agency stretch

By JAY TAFT Rockford Register-Star The Chicago Bears stayed very busy during the latest free-agency period, and it looks like they might have just bought themselves a little freedom.

Freedom to maneuver their roster in ways they couldn’t before (i.e. “Kyle Long, back to guard you go”). Freedom to explore other areas of need (like finding a safety) without the dire urgency that used to be there. And, possibly most important of all, freedom to go after anything, and anyone, they covet on draft day. (Can you say “Welcome to Chicago, Joey Bosa, Myles Jack or DeForest Buckner,” whichever one slides to No. 11 overall?)

The freedom comes because the Bears were not only busy in the football marketplace the past month, but they were fruitful.

Of course only time will tell, but at first peek it would appear as if veteran head coach John Fox and still-green general manager Ryan Pace are working together with a purpose.

“It’s about getting the right kind of guys in there, and the right kind of guys to represent our city and our organization,” Fox said. “But of course, with a highlight on some athleticism and explosion.”

Those are both evident in their top two free-agent hauls, inside linebackers Danny Trevathan and Jerrell Freeman. With two potential stars in the primes of their career, the Bears quickly shored up one of their weakest links, which kicked off the process of letting the free-thinkers take over the draft war room.

Former Cardinals right tackle Bobby Massie was quickly brought in to not only provide leadership up front, but to allow Long the freedom to flow back to his original spot on the line. Two other O-linemen (Ted Larsen and Manny Ramirez) were signed at good prices, too, and suddenly one of the thinnest units on the team was seriously beefed up.

The Bears scored with the acquisition of defensive end Akiem Hicks, a 6-foot-5, 324-pound beast who spent his first four seasons with the Saints and Patriots, as well.

Targeting guys they were familiar with – both on the team, and outside it – the Bears shored up some obvious holes.

They held on to key free agents who had a chance to bolt (primarily receiver Alshon Jeffery, tight end Zach Miller and defensive back Tracy Porter), and looked out-

AP file photo

Chicago Bears linebacker Danny Trevathan talks at a news conference in March in Lake Forest. Trevathan was the Bears first big move in free agency, agreeing to a four-year contract.

“There are a lot of things that go into the preparation in being the best. We’re on our way.”

John Fox Bears head coach side the box to try and fill needs.

The last player the Bears inked was safety and special-teams player Omar Bolden, and he was the eighth free agent they lured over from Denver since Fox was fired by the Broncos and hired by the Bears in January 2015.

It’s quite clear why Fox is reaching into his deep bag of experience.

“We know what we’ve got there with those guys,” he said.

As for why the players like to return to

a Fox-run program?

“He’s a player’s coach. He knows how to communicate with us,” Bolden said.

“He knows how to treat us, and he’s fun.

He just loves to win, and the guy’s a great leader.”

The Bears did lose running back Matt Forte and tight end Martellus Bennett, but with a young Jeremy Langford providing hope for the future at tailback, and Miller showing what he can do at tight end when healthy late last year, they may

just get a pass on those losses.

They also finally gave up on defender Shea McClellin – but in this case, we’re looking at a clear addition-by-subtraction situation.

But not just because of one thing, because of all of this, the Bears’ draft-day braintrust will have to worry less about filling desperation needs, and more about finding that special talent that could lead this team to greatness for years to come.

Is there more work to be done?

“A whole heck of a lot,” Pace recently said.

But are they a whole lot closer than they were when free agency kicked in on March 9?

“There are a lot of things that go into the preparation in being the best,” Fox said. “We’re on our way.”

DEPTH CHART

T

S

his is our first look at the 2016 depth chart following nearly seven weeks of free agency and with days to go until the NFL Draft.

We will continue to update our Bears depth chart at ProfootballWeekly.com between now and when the Bears report to training camp in Bourbonnais in late July, when the team will release its unofficial depth chart prior to the first preseason game.

– Kevin Fishbain The biggest changes on this depth chart come at running back and tight end, where Jeremy Langford and Zach Miller, respectively, move up from No. 2 to starter, highlighting the chance the Bears are looking closely to add depth at those positions in the draft after moving on from Matt Forte and trading Martellus Bennett.

On the offensive line, we should note that some of the reserve offensive tackles are interchangeable, and players like Matt Slauson and Kyle Long can play multiple positions up front. If a tackle had to leave a game, Long would likely move over and Ted Larsen or Manny Ramirez would play guard. There should be some spirited competition at center and the guard spots with the additions of Larsen and Ramirez. Left tackle is a position that could be addressed in the draft, too.

The wide receiving group looks strong, on paper.

If healthy, that’s a stellar top three, with nice depth in the forms of Marquess Wilson, Marc Mariani, Josh Bellamy and Deonte Thompson, who received valuable reps last season.

We’ll certainly see a fourth quarterback added to this depth chart between now and the start of OTAs. Whether or not it’s someone good enough to challenge David Fales for the No. 2 job will be one of the intriguing parts of draft weekend.

DEFENSE How much better does this defense look than the one that took the field in Week 17 last season? The obvious upgrades come at inside linebacker, and they’re massive with the additions of Danny Trevathan and Jerrell Freeman, moving Christian Jones, John Timu and Jonathan Anderson to reserve/special-teams roles.

The D-line could still use a starter. Mitch Unrein is a very dependable player (on both sides of the ball), but is better as a team’s third D-end. It seems Ego Ferguson has progressed well from his season-ending injury, so we’ll see where he’s slotted when OTAs begin. Ferguson and Will Sutton have versatility to play DE or NT. No changes at outside linebacker, but something is missing – speed. Lamarr Houston and Willie Young came on strong last season, proving they could be effective in a 3-4. Pernell McPhee, when healthy, was the best defensive player on the team, but none of the three displays the type of speed off the edge that could help the pass rush.

In the secondary, the starting four returns with clear questions behind them. How comfortable are the Bears going into the season with Bryce Callahan as the starting nickel? If Antrel Rolle gets hurt, would the Bears be ready to go with Harold Jones-Quartey, Omar Bolden or Chris Prosinski again? Both corner and safety are prime positions where the Bears could use an early pick.

Omar Bolden Harold Jones-Quartey Anthony Jefferson

LAMARR HOUSTON

OLB

PERNELL McPHEE

JERRELL FREEMAN

ADRIAN AMOS

OLB

Chris Prosinski Demontre Hurst

ILB

S

OFFENSE

ANTREL ROLLE

Willie Young

Christian Jones Jonathan Anderson

ILB

DANNY TREVATHAN

Sam Acho Lamin Barrow

John Timu Danny Mason

CB

DE

CB

TRACY PORTER

AKIEM HICKS Will Sutton Cornelius Washington Greg Scruggs

Bryce Callahan Jacoby Glenn

OLT

WR

OLG

ALSHON JEFFERY

CHARLES LENO JR.

MATT SLAUSON

Marquess Wilson Cameron Meredith

Tayo Fabuluje Jason Weaver

Ted Larsen

DE

NT

MITCH UNREIN

Bruce Gaston Terry Williams

Ego Ferguson D’Anthony Smith Keith Browner

EDDIE GOLDMAN

C

HRONISS GRASU Manny Ramirez Cornelius Edison

ORG

ORT

BOBBY MASSIE

Ted Larsen Manny Ramirez

Nick Becton Martin Wallace

JAY CUTLER

KEVIN WHITE

TE

ZACH MILLER Khari Lee Rob Housler Gannon Sinclair

WR

EDDIE ROYAL

David Fales Matt Blanchard

Josh Bellamy Deonte Thompson Nathan Palmer

Sherrick McManis De’Vante Bausby

KYLE LONG

QB

WR

KYLE FULLER

Marc Mariani Marcus Lucas

KR

DEONTE THOMPSON

PK

ROBBIE GOULD

P

PAT O’DONNELL

RB

Omar Bolden Marc Mariani

Ka’Deem Carey Jacquizz Rodgers Senorise Perry Paul Lasike

MARC MARIANI

JEREMY LANGFORD

PR

Eddie Royal

LS

AARON BREWER Patrick Scales

5 PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | April 22-24, 2016 • ProFootballWeekly.com

2016

PRE-TRAINING CAMP

ProFootballWeekly.com • April 22-24, 2016

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12 prospects Bears might be targeting at No. 11 Who will the Bears take with the 11th overall pick? Mock drafts have a wide variety of players who could be wearing the navy and orange next season. Below is our guess at 12 targets for the Bears either at No. 11, or another spot in the first round if they decide to trade up or down. Former director of college scouting Greg Gabriel provided Pro Football Weekly with the following scouting reports. Players are ranked in order of Gabriel’s draft grades.

DE DeForest Buckner Oregon

6-7, 291 pounds Way we see it: This is a player who has shown improvement every year he has been at Oregon. Has the natural physical traits to be a dominant defensive lineman in the NFL. While he plays in a 3-4 scheme at DeForest Oregon, he can play in any Buckner scheme at the next level.

Has really come on as a pass rusher this year and learned how to set up opponents and put moves together. Will no doubt be a top 10 pick and could very well be the first or second defensive linemen drafted.

blocker and a top competitor. Plays an aggressive brand of football. Punishing run blocker who looks to finish. Sets quickly in pass protection and does a good job mirroring opponents and anchoring. Overall, like most rookies he will most likely start off on the right side. While he can play DT A’Shawn Robinson left tackle in the NFL, he may find a home Alabama at right tackle and be a 10-year fixture. I 6-4, 307 pounds Way we see it: When you factor in his age, have no doubt he will be a winning player you can see that he has unlimited upside at the next level. as a player. He turned 21 on March 21st.

He is versatile in that he can play in any DE Kevin Dodd scheme and plays just about any defensive Clemson line position. He is best suited to be either 6-5, 277 pounds a 3-technique in a 4-3 or a 5-technique in a Way we see it: He had a very strong 2015 3-man front. He is excellent as a run-down with 63 total tackles including 23.5 tackplayer and still developing as a pass rush- les for loss and 12.0 sacks. He was a late er. He has all the physical tools to become bloomer who really came on. He has the a very good NFL defensive lineman. He physical tools to be a very good NFL playis strong and athletic and just beginning er. Has very good size and the frame to to come into his own. Will start and be a get to 290+. Dodd plays the run and pass contributor as a rookie. High pick! very well, has good instincts and is sel-

Should come in and start right away. As to get a little bigger to play in a 3-4. Lawgood as he is, he still has unlimited upside. son has excellent overall athleticism. Will come in and start right away for just about any NFL team. Is young and still has treCB Vernon Hargreaves III mendous upside.

Florida

5-10, 204 pounds Way we see it: He has the traits needed to be a top cover corner in the NFL. Can play press or zone equally well. Gets and keeps good position and plays the ball equally well. Has excellent hands and ability to track the ball. Is very willing in run support, can shed and is a good tackler.

He plays the game with a cockiness that is a good thing. Very sure of his ability.

He will challenge receivers and has fun playing the game. Will be a high pick and should come in and start as a rookie.

DE Shaq Lawson Clemson

6-3, 269 pounds Way we see it: He will be one of the better defensive linemen in this draft. Plays both on his feet and in a three-point stance.

Lawson flashes dominating ability with his strength, power, instincts and skill set.

He is a very good player versus the run and as a pass rusher. He’s scheme versatile, can play end in a 4-3 or 3-4. Just needs

OT Jack Conklin Michigan State

6-6, 308 pounds Way we see it: A consistent player at left tackle for Michigan State. He is big, strong and physical. Consistent run and pass

dom fooled. With his size and athleticism, he can play end in a 3-4 or a 4-3. Still has upside. He can be a rookie starter and be a strong contributor.

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Perfect timing for the Bears to need a D-lineman, but when do they draft one?

By ADAM

JAHNS

ajahns@suntimes.com @adamjahns

opens the door for many things at No. 11, including selecting a cornerback to outside linebacker, a left tackle or Ezekiel Elliott, the best running back in the draft.

Alabama defensive tackles A’Shawn Robinson and Jarran Reed appear to be options at No. 11, but they might max out as two-down run-stoppers. They could always develop better pass-rush skills, but that upside might be minimal.

Is the 11th overall pick too high for a part-time player?

It might be prudent to wait until the second round (41st overall pick) or the third round (72nd overall) to acquire such a player.

The timing is perfect. The Bears need difference-makers on their defensive line, and this year’s class has been routinely touted as deep and special.

With lying widespread at this time of year, there is no need for Bears general manager Ryan Pace to fib. Everyone knows how good this year’s class is and what his current roster holds.

“It’s a spot when we talk about improving our defense, it’s an area where we can make quick improvement,” Pace said at the NFL owners meetings.

Coach John Fox said something about But who and when? his team at the owners meetings that’s The class’s depth will make for in- worth remembering during the draft. Esteresting decisions by Pace. It really sentially, he wants his team to get faster,

us r o ci fo ! i l s e k " D ac t h Sn al He

particularly on defense. The Bears are lacking a true speed rusher off the edge.

“Defensive front help is obviously a deep area,” Fox said. “[But] those elite pass rushers are hard to find. They don’t come around very often. So we’ll still be looking to improve any way we can.”

Never rule out anything during the draft. But the Bears’ decisions to sign inside linebackers Danny Trevathan and Jerrell Freeman in free agency said plenty about how they feel about their options in the draft: They don’t like them.

If the Bears don’t draft an inside linebacker, John Timu and Jonathan Anderson, two undrafted rookies from a year ago, will be the top reserves at the ultra-violent position.

But Pace seems to be OK with that.

He points to all their playing time last

season.

“Anderson, when I think of him, what comes to mind is that he’s very athletic and he runs very well,” Pace said.

“When I think of Timu, I think of a guy that’s extremely instinctive and physical and tough. They both possess different traits. But there was a great value to them playing as much as they did.”

Tight end is a need for the Bears that warrants more attention. The Bears absolutely have to take one after trading Martellus Bennett and losing out on Saints restricted free agent Josh Hill.

But it’s a thin class for tight ends.

Pace himself described it as merely OK. But they need to add someone to their tight-end mix, which is led by veteran Zach Miller.

If the Bears are going to reach on any position, this is it.

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Most project Chicago to draft for ‘D’ in 1st round

The consensus is that Bears GM Ryan Pace and coach John Fox will look to add more playmakers to the defense in the draft, especially with their first pick at 11th overall.

But there could be a couple offensive players who, if they’re available, would be hard to pass up for a team that finished 21st in yards and 23rd in scoring last season and then lost two of its top skill position players.

The Bears’ leading rusher over the past eight years, Matt Forte, is now a Jet. Tight end Martellus Bennett, a Pro Bowl pick in 2014, is with the Patriots.

Pace and Fox originally paid lip service to their young runners, Jeremy Langford and Ka’Deem Carey, and then made a lucrative offer to Denver’s restricted free agent, C.J. Anderson, who the Broncos eventually retained.

How do Pace and Fox really feel about Langford and Carey? We’ll find out for sure

OPINION

By BOB

LeGERE

rlegere@dailyherald.com @BobLeGere

if Ohio State’s do-it-all running back Ezekiel Elliott is still on the board when the Bears pick on the night of April 28. There’s probably a 50-50 chance, and there’s no doubt Elliott would make any NFL team better immediately.

But the Bears have bigger needs on defense, and even on offense, where the line remains a work in progress. If Notre Dame’s Ronnie Stanley falls to 11, he projects as a plug-and-play left tackle, who also makes the Bears better immediately, no matter how much they say they like Charles Leno Jr. Taking Stanley might be an easy

decision for the Bears, but what if he’s gone and Michigan State’s Jack Conklin is available? The Spartan is a popular Chicago choice in many mocks. But some scouts believe Conklin will be more effective in the NFL as a guard, and the Bears are solid there. Their two best linemen are guards – Kyle Long and Matt Slauson – and they recently added veterans Manny Ramirez and Ted Larsen to the interior-O-line mix.

That could change if rumors of a Slauson trade come to fruition, but for now, tight end is a bigger concern.

For all his selfishness and petulance, Bennett is still one of the NFL’s top allaround tight ends. The problem is, he doesn’t want to be. He wants to be Jimmy Graham, sprinting downfield to make big catches, while someone else does the dirty work that comes with being an all-around tight end.

Fortunately for the Bears, they can find a complement to their gifted receiving tight end Zach Miller well beyond the first round. It’s possible the best tight end in the draft, Arkansas’ Hunter Henry, could be there when the Bears pick in the second round, 41st overall.

As long as Miller remains healthy, which is hardly a given, the Bears’ bigger need is for an in-line blocker at tight end.

Those guys will be available on the third day.

And there’s also the search for Jay Cutler’s successor. The sooner that begins the better because Cutler will be 33 before the draft ends. Pace believes it’s good policy to draft a quarterback at some point in most years.

“It’s a good class,” he said of the current crop. “I don’t want to get into the specifics, but there are a handful of guys that are up near the top. There are also a handful of quarterbacks in the middle part of the draft that I feel good about and that we’ve got to make sure we’ve accurately graded.”

It’s more likely the Bears will look at quarterbacks in the middle rounds. There are a couple of former Florida Gators who might interest the Bears, though neither finished his career in Gainesville.

After he lost the starting job to Jeff Driskel, 6-foot-4, 231-pound Jacoby Brissett played two seasons at North Carolina State, where he threw 43 TD passes and just 11 interceptions.

After Driskel lost the job, he played his final season at Louisiana Tech as a graduate student. The 6-foot-4, 234-pounder ran a 4.49 40-yard dash at the Scouting Combine, the fastest of any quarterback. Neither player is NFL ready, but both have enough tools to project as starters down the road.

9 PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | April 22-24, 2016 • ProFootballWeekly.com

Bears have options to add talent on ‘O’ at No. 11

PFW MOCK DRAFTS

ProFootballWeekly.com • April 22-24, 2016

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10

N F L F I R S T- R O U N D P R E D I C T I O N S

Hub Arkush GM/EDITOR

HARKUSH@PROFOOTBALLWEEKLY.COM

With two blockbuster draft trades in the books, could there be another with less than a week to go before Draft Day? Anything’s possible in today’s NFL.

1

RAMS (VIA TRADE WITH TITANS)

Carson Wentz QB, N. DAKOTA ST.

Great athlete, fierce competitor. Can he handle huge step up in class?

2

EAGLES (VIA TRADE WITH BROWNS)

Jared Goff

QB, CALIFORNIA

Howie Roseman’s guy, and he paid dearly to get him.

3

CHARGERS

Jalen Ramsey

CB/S, FLORIDA STATE

Quite possibly the surest thing in this draft wherever he plays.

4

COWBOYS

Myles Jack OLB, UCLA

Rod Marinelli hopes he’s the next Derrick Brooks or Lance Briggs.

5

JAGUARS

Vernon Hargreaves III CB, FLORIDA

We have our doubts about him, but lots of insiders have him here.

6

RAVENS

Laremy Tunsil OT, OLE MISS

The Wizard of Oz never looks a gift horse in the mouth.

7

49ERS

Ronnie Stanley OT, NOTRE DAME

More than a few teams rank Stanley ahead of Tunsil.

8

BROWNS (VIA TRADE WITH EAGLES)

Joey Bosa

DE, OHIO STATE

Browns stay close to home to begin rebuilding defense.

9

BUCCANEERS

DeForest Buckner DE, OREGON

A rare prospect at the five-technique – Calais Campbell is the comp.

10

GIANTS

Ezekiel Elliott

RB, OHIO STATE A luxury Giants can afford after breaking the bank on “D” in free agency.

11

BEARS

A’Shawn Robinson

AP Photo/Brynn Anderson

North Dakota State QB Carson Wentz throws during practice for the North team prior to the Senior Bowl in January at Ladd–Peebles Stadium, in Mobil, Ala. Pro Football’s Weekly’s Hub Arkush projects Wentz as the No. 1 overall pick of the 2016 NFL Draft, with the Rams selecting him.

DT/DE, ALABAMA Robinson may be the best player on the board and he fills a huge Bears need.

12

SAINTS

Sheldon Rankins

DT, LOUISVILLE Some think he may be special, just draft him and then figure out where he plays.

13

DOLPHINS

Jack Conklin

OT, MICHIGAN STATE This kid could be the steal of the draft at 13, unless Bears take him first.

14

RAIDERS

Reggie Ragland

ILB, ALABAMA Raiders are stockpiling playmakers and this is a good fit.

15

TITANS (VIA TRADE WITH RAMS)

Taylor Decker

OT, OHIO STATE Titans go for Ohio St./Michigan bookends with Lewan, and both can play right or left.

16

LIONS

Laquon Treadwell

WR, OLE MISS He’s not Megatron but he is easily the best option available in this draft.

17

FALCONS

Shaq Lawson

DE, CLEMSON Falcons are desperate for pass rush and this kid’s a good one.

18

COLTS

Jason Spriggs

OT, INDIANA Possibly the most underrated player in this draft fills a huge need.

19

BILLS

Kevin Dodd

DE, CLEMSON Rex Ryan’s answer to Mario Williams’ exile.

20

JETS

Darron Lee

OLB, OHIO STATE This could be a little high for him, but a nice fit in Todd Bowles scheme.

21

WASHINGTON

William Jackson III CB, HOUSTON

And this is definitely a reach, but Washington must address secondary.

Vernon Butler

Josh Doctson

DT, LOUISIANA TECH A large space-eater to try and fill B.J. Raji’s shoes.

VIKINGS

28

22

TEXANS

WR, TCU Texans need someone to benefit from double-teams on DeAndre Hopkins.

23

27

PACKERS

Corey Coleman

WR, BAYLOR Bridgewater is stuck in neutral until Vikings get him some weapons.

24

BENGALS

Jarran Reed

DT/DE, ALABAMA Bengals love drafting big guys high and this is a real value pick.

25

STEELERS

Mackensie Alexander

CB, CLEMSON Steelers didn’t expect him to fall this far, thrilled with help on the corner.

26

SEAHAWKS

Leonard Floyd

OLB, GEORGIA Typical Seahawks pick, draft an amazing athlete and try and make him a player.

CHIEFS

Artie Burns

CB, MIAMA (FLA.) The heir apparent to Sean Smith is another big, long corner with better speed.

29

CARDINALS

Noah Spence

DE/OLB, E. KENTUCKY This is the perfect spot for one of the draft’s controversial prospects with huge upside.

30

PANTHERS

Emmanuel Ogbah

DE/OLB, OKLAHOMA ST. Panthers can’t pass another potential difference maker for their pressure “D.”

31

BRONCOS

Paxton Lynch

QB, MEMPHIS Elway hopes he’s found the next –and less expensive – Brock Osweiler.

BEARS 2016 DRAFT PREDICTIONS

Kevin Fishbain WRITER/EDITOR

KFISHBAIN@PROFOOTBALLWEEKLY.COM

What can be more ridiculous than trying to predict the first round of the NFL Draft?

Projecting all nine Bears picks, of course. The following seven-round Bears Mock Draft lays out scenarios for GM Ryan Pace and the front office considering the team needs and players available each round.

1

PICK 11

OSU RB Ezekiel Elliott

If the Bears really want Elliott, they may have to move up a pick or two to get ahead of the Giants, assuming the Eagles don’t pick the draft’s top back. The Bears have an extra fourth-round pick to use as ammo, and this scenario likely needs help from a team grabbing Paxton Lynch. The familiarity between the Bears and Elliott is high because of

running backs coach Stan Drayton, Elliott’s position coach at Ohio State in 2014. Yes, the team is confident in Jeremy Langford, but its aggressive pursuit of C.J. Anderson shows that if the right player is there to help the offense, they’ll make a play. An Elliott-Langford backfield duo would be tremendous for the long-term and help an offense that has lost Matt Forte and Martellus Bennett this offseason.

2

PICK 41

Mississippi State DT Chris Jones

The defensive lineman class is deep, allowing the Bears to wait until the second to grab someone like Jones who has great length (6-foot-6 with 34 ½” arms) and is considering a player on the rise with his best football ahead of him. He could step in and start next to Eddie Goldman and Akiem Hicks.

3

PICK 72

N. Iowa CB/S Deiondre’ Hall

Hall has the size, physicality, ball

skills and versatility to play corner or safety. He’ll need some time to develop coming out of the FCS, which is fine for a Bears team returning four starters in the secondary, and Hall certainly has some special-teams traits.

4

PICK 106

Stanford QB Kevin Hogan

The mid-round quarterbacks will be intriguing to watch. If one team grabs a signal-caller in Round 3, will others get anxious and start taking them off the board? If Hogan is still around in the fourth, he’d be a solid quarterback to develop in the Bears’ system behind Jay Cutler and David Fales. He is smart and posted impressive numbers including a career 65.9-percent accuracy rate and 75-29 touchdown-interception ratio.

4

PICK 127

North Dakota State OT Joe Haeg

This mock draft assumes that the Bears truly are comfortable with Charles Leno at left tackle for the present and future, but they still need

depth at tackle. Haeg has a desirable frame for the position at 6-6, 304 pounds with 33 3/4” arms. He started 60 games and protected Carson Wentz.

5

PICK 150

Washington OLB Travis Feeney

Pace and Fox want to increase team speed, and they could certainly use an upgrade in that department off the edge. Enter Feeney, who notched a 4.50 40 at the Combine. He had 17.5 tackles for loss last season, but will drop in the draft because of some injury questions. He has tweener traits, but Fangio should be able to find a spot for a player with this kind of athleticism.

6

PICK 185

Northwestern DL Dean Lowry

Depth still has to be added in the trenches, and if the Rockford Boylan product slips to the sixth round, the Bears should grab him. As a defensive end who slid inside on passing downs, Lowry was very productive

in Evanston with 13.5 tackles for loss last season. He shined at the Combine with his athleticism and has a 6-foot-6 frame able to hold 300 pounds, ideal to play the five-technique.

6

PICK 206

Georgia Tech CB D.J. White

You can never have enough corners.

It’s one of the thinner positions on the Bears – and Pace didn’t draft any in 2015. White has plenty of experience with good ball skills and he type of physicality teams want out of players who can contribute early on special teams.

7

PICK 230

Arkansas State TE Darion Griswold

It’s a bad time for a weak tight end class for the Bears with a need for depth behind Zach Miller. Griswold would add to the small-school crop for Pace’s second class. He was impressive at the Shrine Game and got the call-up to the Senior Bowl thanks to good hands and athleticism.

2016 DRAFT PREVIEW PARTY Join us at Public House for a complimentary Draft Preview panel discussion featuring Rick Morrissey of the Chicago SunTimes, Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times, Hub Arkush of Chicago Football, and NFL Hall-of-Famer Dan Hampton.

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RIVER NORTH

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | April 22-24, 2016 • ProFootballWeekly.com

PFW MOCK DRAFTS

11

ProFootballWeekly.com • April 22-24, 2016

| PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY

12

Bears have a number of options in 1st round • PROSPECTS

Continued from page 6

CB Eli Apple Ohio State

6-1, 199 pounds Way we see it: He is a physical corner who has all the athletic tools needed to excel at the next level. He is tall and long and shows a strong jam at the line of scrimmage. Has Eli Apple the ability to mirror opponent very well in press man. Has excellent body control and transitions quickly. Reacts well to the ball and has good hands. He is a willing run support guy who can tackle but does not consistently wrap up. Because of his age, he may start off as a third corner but he will be a starter in short order. Has the physical tools to be an eventual No. 1 corner.

cive to success in the NFL. Strong and powerful inside with creativity and cutback ability. Consistently gets yards after contact. Very quick-footed with quick change of direction and a burst. Reliable as a receiver with soft hands and run-after skills. Excellent blocker, especially in the pass game. Will start right away. Better than Melvin Gordon last year.

OT Ronnie Stanley Notre Dame

6-6, 312 pounds Way we see it: Athletically, he may be the best tackle in this draft. Has all the physical traits to be an outstanding pro. Needs to become a more intense, physical player. Some question his mental toughness.

H i s s t r e n g t h i s g o o d Ronnie enough but if he wants to be among the best he needs to get stronger in both the upper RB Ezekiel Elliott and lower body. He almost came out last year and he did himself a favor staying Ohio State 6-0, 225 pounds in school. When he is on his game he is Way we see it: Has been the bell cow at outstanding, but he can get a little lazy Ohio State. Has a running style condu- with his technique. There is some risk to

him but all the tools are there.

the ball. Is an efficient and effective pass rusher who consistently gets sacks and QB pressures. His best fit is as a 3-techDT Jarran Reed nique in a 4-3, but he can also play a 0 or Alabama 1 tech in a 4-3. Is too short to play at the 6-3, 307 pounds Way we see it: Usually plays inside but 4-tech, but may be able to play some nose will get some snaps at the 5-technique. in a few off from defenses. Will most He is big, strong and powerful and a likely be selected in the second half of very good run-down player. He is quick the first round. to find the ball, has good anticipation and makes plays in the run game. Lacks OLB Leonard Floyd the speed, top quickness and burst to be Georgia a top pass rusher but he can provide in6-6, 244 pounds side pressure. The type that is good at Way we see it: A tall, long and lean playpushing the pocket. Can play in a 3- or er who is used in a variety of ways. Lines 4-man front and will start as a rookie. up inside and outside, up and down. A Unless he develops his pass-rush technique, he will be limited to being a run- very good athlete with speed and is very good in space. Has his problems near the down player. line of scrimmage. Lacks top strength and bulk and can get overpowered. Has DT Sheldon Rankins to make plays with his speed and quickLouisville ness. That won’t happen at the next lev6-1, 299 pounds Way we see it: Rankins is a fun guy to el. Will get drafted high because of his watch on tape because he plays so hard. athleticism, but I feel unless used propWhile he is short, he has length and good erly he will struggle in the NFL. Has to hand use which overcomes his short be picked by the right team. stature. He is quick and explosive with • Draft reports written by Greg Gabrivery good power and body control. Is disruptive in the run game and will chase el, PFW’s draft expert.

CARS815.com

NFC NORTH REPORT

13

BY ARTHUR ARKUSH

DETROIT LIONS (10 picks, including No. 16 overall) Biggest needs: OL, DE, WR Marvin Jones and Jeremy Kerley won’t be mistaken for Calvin Johnson, but combined with Golden Tate, Eric Ebron and Theo Riddick, the newcomer wideouts can help fill the mega void created by Johnson’s retirement. Answers at right tackle and center on one of the NFL’s weakest O-lines are less apparent.

Even if Riley Reiff kicks across the line, a left tackle is needed, and center Travis Swanson was the worst member of Detroit’s disappointing front five.

DE Ezekiel Ansah is an absolute terror, improving each season culminating with his first Pro Bowl nod in 2015. Devin Taylor also had his best campaign and Wallace Gilberry was a solid veteran signing, but finding

another player who can rush and defend the run would maximize Ansah and a defensive tackle room with questions of its own, and address fragile depth after the veteran departures of Jason Jones and Darryl Tapp.

We’re tempted to list strong safety, where Detroit’s top two players – Isa Abdul-Quddus and James Ihedigbo – are gone, replaced by injury-prone Rafael Bush and unproven Tavon Wilson. But replacing a transcendent player like Johnson won’t be easy, and Detroit, now more than ever, clearly lacks a true, big-bodied burner capable of dictating coverages and getting on top of defenses.

Kevin Dodd

Five players who make sense at No. 16: OT Taylor Decker, Ohio State OT Jack Conklin, Michigan State DE Kevin Dodd, Clemson DT Sheldon Rankins, Louisville WR Laquon Treadwell, Mississippi

MINNESOTA VIKINGS (8 picks, including No. 23 overall) Biggest needs: WR, S, OL

LaquonTreadwell Treadwell Laquan

GREEN BAY PACKERS (9 picks, including No. 27 overall) Biggest needs: ILB, DT, OT The Packers are moving Clay Matthews back to the edge in the hopes of improving his durability and pass-rush production, but without a better contingency plan inside than Jake Ryan and Sam Barrington, the opportunity cost could be significant. Ryan and Barrington are tough and relentless, but lacking in coverage. The Packers need at least one speedy inside ‘backer who can hang with backs and tight ends on short and intermediate routes.

Even if B.J. Raji had opted not to take a playing hiatus in 2016 and re-signed in Green Bay, the Packers would still be thin (figuratively, not literally) up front. Without Raji and with ascending Mike Pennel serving a four-game suspension to begin the year, the

Rick Spielman has been one of the NFL’s better drafters in recent years, but his focus will be on correcting two high-profile draft misses – Cordarrelle Patterson and Matt Kalil. Wonder what the receiver prototype Minnesota covets looks like? On paper, it’s Patterson: big and strong with lethal long speed and run-after-catch ability. But Patterson has tantalized instead of taking advantage of his opportunities, relegating him to simply being a dynamic returner after it appeared he was on pace for a formidable triple-threat role as a rookie. Spielman landed a Round 5 gem in Stefon Diggs last offseason.

Now finding a physical gamebreaker to play outside becomes paramount for Diggs’ and, more importantly, Teddy Bridgewater’s growth.

Packers are likely to tap into a rich interior D-line draft – perhaps early – in search of someone who can help their No. 26 run ‘D’ and, ideally, also provide some push.

Although Green Bay returns its top seven O-linemen for a group that, when healthy, is one of the NFL’s better units, Don Barclay was exposed badly when asked to step in on both edges. J.C. Tretter fared better, but Ted Thompson could look ahead to 2017, when 60 percent of the starting unit – Josh Sitton, David Bakhtiari and T.J. Lang – hits free agency unless new contracts are signed.

Five players who make sense at No. 27: DT Andrew Billings, Baylor NT Austin Johnson, Penn State ILB Reggie Ragland, Alabama LB-S Darron Lee, Ohio State OLB Emmanuel Ogbah, Oklahoma State

Harrison Smith might be the NFL’s best allaround safety east of Seattle. His new running mate, Michael Griffin, is an upgrade over Andrew Sendejo, yet Griffin is 31 and on a one-year deal. Locking up Smith is Spielman’s No. 1 non-draft priority and finding his future sidekick should be fairly high on his remaining list.

The 2015 wild-card team boasts one of the league’s most talented and deepest rosters, allowing them to look beyond 2016. It’s necessary when it comes to Kalil and C John Sullivan, whose performance and health, respectively, could signal the end of their Vikings tenures after the season.

Five players who make sense at No. 23: WR Laquon Treadwell, Mississippi WR Josh Doctson, TCU S-OLB Su’a Cravens, USC S Darian Thompson, Boise State C Ryan Kelly, Alabama

Andrew Billings

Andrew Billings

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | April 22-24, 2016 • ProFootballWeekly.com

PFW breaks down needs of Bears’ division foes

14

ProFootballWeekly.com • April 22-24, 2016

| PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY

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PAT FINLEY

ARTHUR ARKUSH

Is the NFL Draft the Bears’ Super Bowl?

With the NFL draft in Chicago for a second consecutive year, Pat Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times and Pro Football Weekly’s Arthur Arkush discuss the venue, the city and the Bears’ draft outlook.

FINLEY: Last year at this time, Arthur, we didn’t know what the NFL Draft would look like. How would it function outside of New York City? Would it snow? Would the free “Draft Town” fan festival be a hit? Would fans care that the top two quarterbacks were hanging out at home? My question for you, Arthur: Has it been a success? And, short of the public’s insatiable love of football, why?

weekend hosting 200,000 “Draft Town” attendees, to the best venue in the city – the Auditorium – serving as the perfect TV backdrop, Chicago couldn’t have been painted in a better light. That’s a stark contrast from soaring murder rates and a historic debt crisis, so it was a resounding success from my view.

The weather and great amenitites were a huge boon, but the NFL Draft hype machine could probably be successful being held in Chernobyl. With no commitment to Chicago beyond 2016, will the league begin a long residency here like the one it had in New York? Or will the NFL soon flock to what’s once again its second-largest market, Los Angeles, or elsewhere?

ARKUSH: Aesthetically, Pat, it was perfect. From the splendor of Grant Park on an unseasonably warm and picturesque

FINLEY: Like Chicago’s best actors and fast food, the NFL will move out West eventually. The only question is, will

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ARKUSH: For the sake of Bears’ brass and fans, let’s hope not, but as for hosting it, we both know an outdoor Super Bowl in the NFL’s second smallest stadium isn’t happening. I suppose the draft, which allows the city to show off for an event it’s better suited to host, is decent consolation. There are some interesting Chicago draft angles, too, with former Bear Jeff Fisher’s Rams desperate move up to No. 1 and local product Laquon Treadwell poised to potentially be the first wideout selected. What other Chicago story lines exist? And could a draft coup for the Bears make contending for the upcoming Super Bowl achievable?

FINLEY: The Bears are more than one draft away from thinking Super Bowl,

but a decent one this year could have them poised to sneak into the bottom half of the playoffs. Ryan Pace fared about as well as a GM whose No. 1 pick sat out all year could possibly expect, landing keepers in Eddie Goldman, Jeremy Langford and Adrian Amos. I’m a believer that the best way to draft well is to take as many bites at the apple as possible, and Pace has nine picks from which to work – or from which to trade.

Notre Dame tackle Ronnie Stanley and wide receiver Will Fuller qualify as Chicago storylines, sure, but nothing would captivate the city like a bold Bears draft pick. Got any bold predictions for what the Bears will do, Arthur?

ARKUSH: I predict the Bears will draft good players with great athleticism, versatility and football character, said every GM, ever. Seriously, Ezekiel Elliott at No. 11 might be viewed as bold by some, as we all know about the changing RB landscape, but what better way to bolster Chicago’s post-Matt Forte backfield outlook than with another marvelous three-down back, with ties to the Bears? If Elliott is gone, like I expect, reaching slightly for a starting five-technique like Kevin Dodd (one-year producer) or Robert Nkemdiche (underachiever; forget the strong football character part) would punctuate the front-7 rebuild boldly.

GOING ON VACATION? Keep in touch with the news of the Sauk Valley

15 PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | April 22-24, 2016 • ProFootballWeekly.com

TAKE TWO

that be in 2017, when Chicago’s contract is up, or in 2019, when the Rams complete the great Pyramid of Inglewood?

My impression always has been that the draft would leave Chicago after 2016, but maybe the Los Angeles timeline helps them keep it for another cycle. Like NFL games have become, the draft is a great television spectacle and a so-so in-person event, but Draft Town is changing that.

To put fans – many of whom can drive in from other NFL markets – in Grant Park on a spring day is a beautiful thing. Arthur, is this Chicago’s Super Bowl? And what about that game, anyway?

Gif=ffkYXccN\\bcp%Zfd 8gi`c ))$)+# )'(-

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Spring

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PAGE 2

Sauk Valley Media • April 25, 2016

Mums not exclusive to fall (MS) Chrysanthemums, often referred to as “mums,” are among the most popular flowers for autumn plantings and landscape decor. But these hardy, often vividly colored plants are worthy of attention as early as the spring gardening season.

Although mums are most often purchased in September and October and cast aside shortly thereafter, the plant that many people mistake for an annual is actually a perennial — meaning with the proper care it can come back year after year. By planting mums in the spring, gardeners ensure the plants have enough time to develop solid root systems, including their hallmark underground runners that enable them to grow tall and wide and over-winter.

While it’s best to plant potted mums that were used in fall decorating after the flowers die and before winter sets in, some container plants can still thrive and come back the following year. When cleaning gardens in the spring, do not trash withered mums that may have been stashed behind the shed. Try planting them and you may be surprised that they thrive and rebloom in the garden this year. Remove the dead branches and dried-up parts of the plant only after new shoots begin to grow.

Gardening experts advise planting mums in sunny spots with southern exposure. However, be sure to keep the plants away from artificial lighting, such as streetlamps or garden accent lighting, as mums are short-day plants that bloom only when the hours of

Well known for bringing color to autumn landscapes, mums actually are a perennial that can be planted in spring to come back each year. darkness are greater than the hours of daylight.

Mums that get too much light at night may not bloom to their fullest capacity, or they may be “leggy,” with longer stems instead of being compact. Pruning or “pinching” mums in June and July will help keep mums compact as well, resulting in more flowers.

Mums desire a rich and moist but well-drained soil.

Planted mums will require less water than container plants, but the ground should never become soggy.

Well-watered plants will offer more flowers.

Hardy mums work well as edging, in mass groupings to create a shrub-like appearance and even in containers. Thanks to their relative affordability, mums are an inexpensive way to dress up landscapes.

Mums are hardy in USDA zones five through nine.

Although fall-flowering mums may not be the first plants to come to gardeners’ minds at the onset of spring, planning chrysanthemum landscaping now can help ensure beautiful plants when spring and summer flowers begin to wither.

PAGE 3

April 25, 2016 • Sauk Valley Media

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Sauk Valley Media • April 25, 2016

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April 25, 2016 • Sauk Valley Media

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Sauk Valley Media • April 25, 2016

Are formal spaces dissapearing?

Formal dining rooms may fall victim to more useful spaces popularized by modern home plans.

(MS) Formal dining and living spaces could once be found in every home. But such rooms are becoming more and more rare, thanks in large part to the rising popularity of multipurpose open spaces.

As early as 1992, architects and builders were predicting the demise of formal living spaces in homes. At that year’s International Geographical Congress, architectural geographer Artimus Keiffer estimated the living room and dining room would disappear from the American residence in the next century, to be replaced by the family-entertainment room and the computer room. According to North Carolina-based builders Stanton Homes, many home buyers have inquired about converting their formal dining rooms into office spaces or rooms to be used for purposes other than dining.

The National Association of Home Builders also released a special report listing home features expected to become the norm within the next several years. More than half of the NAHB study participants expected the living room to merge with other spaces in the home, while 30 percent expected it to vanish to save on square footage.

So what is taking the place of living rooms and dining rooms? Great rooms and open-concept kitchens have steadily caught the eyes of designers and homeowners alike. Such rooms enable a free flow between lounging and entertaining spaces and the heart of the home — the kitchen. On-the-go families may not be sitting down to the same formal dinners they once were, or they don’t need the pomp and circumstance of formal meals. Large eat-in-kitchens function well for family meals and even for entertaining friends in a relaxing way.

Thanks to the advent of wireless technology and mobile devices, home residents no longer need to be relegated to one room in the house for their media watching or computer use.

This may have helped to accelerate the disappearance of living rooms. In addition, the concept of devoting one space as a media-free zone (traditional formal living or sitting rooms tend to be tech-free) may seem antiquated to this plugged-in generation.

Rooms that are comfortable and serve various purposes better suit today’s homeowners.

The rules that once governed the traditional home floor plan are more fluid than ever. Homeowners’ preferences are having a greater impact over which rooms are now being included in new homes and which ones are soon to be history.

PAGE 7

April 25, 2016 • Sauk Valley Media

United Electric

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KohlerGenerators.com SM-ST146640-0425

*Based on generator and load size

PAGE 8

Sauk Valley Media • April 25, 2016

KEEP THE HOME FIRES BURNING CALL OR STOP IN TODAY!

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PAGE 9

April 25, 2016 • Sauk Valley Media

CARPET & 8# HEAVY PAD

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PAGE 10

Sauk Valley Media • April 25, 2016

Tips for first time home buyers

5 simple ways to go green at home and save money

(MS) Buying a home for the first time is an exciting period in a person’s life. Deciding to buy a home often indicates buyers are ready to establish firm roots in a community where they can see themselves living for years to come.

The process of buying a home is rarely easy, and firsttime buyers may feel overwhelmed at times. Such feelings are perfectly normal and felt by first-time buyers regardless of their budgets or home preferences. But there are a few ways to make buying a home more enjoyable than it is nerve-wracking.

• Examine your finances. The first step toward buying a home has nothing to do with deciding if you prefer a craftsman- or Tudor-style home. Before you even begin your search for a home, carefully examine your finances to determine how much is coming in and how much is going out of your household each month. Figure out how much debt you are currently carrying, be it student loan, automotive, consumer or any other types of debt. Order a credit report so you can see how prospective lenders are likely to see you, and address any errors you find on the report before meeting with any lenders. Peruse past bank statements to track your spending habits, looking for areas where you might be able to scale back if need be.

• Be prepared when visiting lenders. Prospective borrowers can make the home-buying process go smoothly by having all of the necessary documentation ready when visiting potential lenders. Many mortgage lenders will want to see some recent pay stubs (from both borrowers if buying with a spouse or partner), a couple years’ worth of W-2s and tax returns, as well as your recent bank statements. You can always call ahead and ask lenders what they need to see when applying for a loan. Having these materials ready in advance means you will spend less time at the bank and more time finding the right home for you.

• Secure financing before you begin house hunting.

Many first-time home buyers might not realize the benefits of securing financing before they begin

(MS) Thinking green throughout the year can offer some significant benefits. Here are some easy ways you can go green in your own home and lower your energy bills: Invest in a programmable thermostat. It will automatically adjust the temperature in your house, saving you energy while you’re out for the day, away on vacation or sleeping. looking for a home. Mortgage preapproval lets buyers know how much a bank will loan them, meaning they won’t spend time looking at homes they can’t afford.

In addition, preapproval means buyers won’t lose out on their dream homes as they scramble to secure financing after making an offer.

• Work with a local real estate agent. Real estate agents are an invaluable resource to home buyers and are especially valuable to those buyers who have never before purchased a home. Agents can help first-time buyers navigate the often confusing and, at times, disappointing process of buying a home.

Choose an agent who is established in the area where you want to buy a home. He or she can provide information about local property taxes and schools as well as a multitude of additional issues that first-time buyers may not think of. Agents also know the lay of the land regarding home prices, which can ease first-time buyers’ fears about overpaying for their first homes.

A home is the biggest purchase many people will ever make. First-time buyers may be intimidated as they begin searching for their homes, but there are several ways to make the process go smoothly.

Switch all of your lightbulbs to CFLs (compact fluorescent light) or LED bulbs. They last longer and use up to 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs, saving you money on your electric bills.

Insulate well. Use insulation with a high R-value, such as Roxul Comfortbatt, to top up insulation in your attic. Aim for an R-value of 50 or a depth of 16 inches.

For whole home efficiency, ensure other areas of your home are well insulated, such as crawl spaces, basement headers, walls and ceilings. It will keep your house cool in the warm weather and take the stress off your air conditioning unit.

Stop air leaks around your home by sealing existing gaps and cracks. Use caulking or weather stripping around doors and windows. Installing a door sweep is also a good idea.

Replace old appliances with energy-efficient models.

Only do laundry or run the dishwasher when you have full loads.

Remember that many little improvements can add up — providing valuable monthly savings for you, while protecting our environment for the future.

PAGE 11

April 25, 2016 • Sauk Valley Media

Needs vary, dependability doesn’t.

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PAGE 12

Sauk Valley Media • April 25, 2016

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PAGE 13

April 25, 2016 • Sauk Valley Media

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PAGE 14

Prepare cooling systems for warm weather

Sauk Valley Media • April 25, 2016 (MS) One springtime task on homeowners’ to-do lists is checking cooling systems to ensure they are ready for summer. Proper maintenance of cooling systems is essential to saving energy and keeping utility costs down. Fortunately, homeowners need not be certified HVAC technicians to maintain their cooling units.

• Clean filters. Whether a home is kept cool by a whole-house central air conditioning system or window units, clean filters are necessary to keep the units working efficiently. Routinely replacing or cleaning filters is one of the most important maintenance tasks to improve airflow and increase efficiency. The U.S. Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy says replacing a dirty, clogged filter with a clean one can lower an air conditioner’s energy consumption by anywhere from 5 to 15 percent.

• Know the square footage. When replacing a cooling system, have an understanding of the size of your home (or room if installing an window unit). Determine the area of the home so you buy a unit that suits your needs. Air conditioners use BTUs (British Thermal Units) to define cooling power. The more BTUs, the larger the space that can be cooled. However, homeowners do not want to exceed the necessary cooling power. This leads to energy waste. EnergyStar.gov can help homeowners find the right cooling system for their needs.

• Inspect system coils. The evaporator and condenser coils on air conditioners can collect dirt, even when filters are maintained. Dirty coils are less efficient at absorbing heat, so periodically remove the dirt. Outdoor coils can be kept cleaner by cutting back foliage from the unit to allow better air flow.

• Inspect condensate drains. Energy.gov also suggests making sure condensate drains, which take moisture pulled from the air away, are functioning properly.

If they’re clogged, they may not be effective at reducing humidity in a home, and they may even leak.

• Clear debris. Remove fallen leaves or other plant material from condenser units and fan blades. Obstructed components can cause the system to retain heat, compromising its ability to work effectively. Some homeowners prefer to cover their condensers at the end of the cooling season to keep leaves and dirt out of the unit.

• Check window unit seals. When installing window units, make sure all seals around the air conditioner are in place to prevent cool-air loss.

• Hire a technician. Air conditioner technicians can be very helpful and will know how to prepare a system for hot weather. Technicians typically conduct multipoint inspections and measure such things as refrigerant levels and duct leakage.

Airflow through the evaporator coil also may be checked. If a homeowner suspects the thermostat is not working properly, a technician can verify if that is true and even install a new one if necessary.

As summer approaches, homeowners should prepare their air conditioning units for the busy months ahead.

PAGE 15

April 25, 2016 • Sauk Valley Media

m a F i l n y e s T t u r ee n K Since 1951

KNUTSEN CABINETS & COUNTERTOPS Showroom: Downtown Sterling • 815-625-4121

Local & Family Owned Since 1951

Dura Supreme Cabinetry “Simply Supreme”

Dutch Knutsen • Winifred Knutsen Dar Knutsen

Mission Statement: We as a family owned business realize our name, reputation and the success of our business can be affected by the quality of the products we provide, the cost of these products, the quality of installation and the service to our customers.

Therefore, we are dedicated to providing the best in all of these areas before, during and after the sale. We aim to build relationships with our customers to work with them to personalize their kitchen and bath designs. Offering options to meet their needs and show them the best selections to maximize

their space at a cost they are comfortable with. It is known that the kitchen is the heart of the home and the place where the greatest family traditions begin. It is not just for cooking the family meals in today’s lifestyle, but rather a gathering place for families to come together to plan and to share, the kids do their homework there, mom pays the bills here, and a spacious island can be the family game table. We are dedicated to making this a place of function, beauty and a place that everyone can truly call HOME.

SM-ST145978-0425

Kraig & Keith Knutsen

Debbie Knutsen Tiesman

All handmade cabinetry in Howard Lake, Minnesota.

Your choice of cabinetry defines your home and exemplifies your lifestyle. Although other interior design elements can be updated to reflect popular trends, built in cabinetry is a core architectural element that provides for your home’s functional and aesthetic design for years to come. Choosing cabinetry is one of the most important decisions you’ll make for your home. With nearly 50 years of experience, we have established a tradition of excellence in quality, craftsmanship and service that is supported with our lifetime limited warranty.

We would be honored if you chose Dura Supreme cabinetry for your home and we are dedicated to upholding the trust and confidence you will invest in us! With such an enticing array of design options and price points, Dura Supreme is your best choice. Within our family of products, you’ll find a perfect fit for every taste and budget.

A Wise Businesman Once Said...

All styles, woods and colors available.

“The disappointment of poor quality lingers long after the sweetness of cheap price is forgotten.” After 60 years in business and thousands of customers we realize this to be very true. Our customers have also realized the importance of working with a family who works with them to design their kitchen or bath at a price they are comfortable with, personalizing it to meet their individual needs. They appreciate the years of experience we have to help them make quality decisions on every aspect of the job. They like that we specialize in maximizing their space so they are confident they are getting the best design for their specific needs. We have also found that our customers seem to be more interested in the quality services that we offer than in the products or price.

PAGE 16

Sauk Valley Media • April 25, 2016

CARPET • HARDWOOD • VINYL LAMINATES • CERAMIC • AREA RUGS

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