Best available or biggest need? Why the Bears should be careful picking at No. 8

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Picking at No. 8 can be great, but the Bears best choose carefully. David Terrell was their choice the last time they were drafting here.

The eighth overall selection has produced some solid players in the NFL. That's the good news. The bad news is the NFL Draft can make the most prepared and polished general managers look foolish almost every year.

Here's a few that got away:

In 2010, the Raiders selected Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain eighth overall. Nick Saban called him one of the best players he's ever coached. He turned out to be a bust with a long list of suspensions, arrests and disappointments for the Raiders, Ravens and Cowboys. It happens, but what makes it worse is when you look back at what the Raiders passed on to draft him.

Jason Pierre-Paul, Demaryius Thomas, Dez Bryant and Patrick Robinson all went later in the first round. Rob Gronkowski fell to the second round. The Steelers finally picked star receiver Antonio Brown in the sixth round. Twenty-one receivers were picked in that draft before Brown.

In 2011, the Titans owned No. 8 overall. Five years after choosing Vince Young at No. 3, the Titans went with a "need" instead of the "best player on the board." Quarterback Jake Locker was their guy and he retired four years later after a short career filled with injuries.

Who could they have drafted? Wisconsin defensive end J.J. Watt was grabbed three picks after Locker by the division rival Texans. Ouch.

2012 was the draft the Dolphins used No. 8 to take quarterback Ryan Tannehill. Linebacker Luke Kuechly was the next pick.

Even when the No. 8 pick turns into a solid choice there can be "what-ifs" in hindsight. The Rams are probably still happy with wide receiver Tavon Austin. He's good, but DeAndre Hopkins was around until the 27th overall pick. The Steelers found LeVeon Bell in the second round with the 48th overall. The Bears went with Kyle Long at No. 20 that year. 

I'm not an NFL expert. I didn't go to the combine. I don't have scouting reports. I'll simply give this advice. You fill your biggest needs as a franchise by drafting the best players. Putting too much weight on "need" can leave you with regrets.

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