Why a WR at No. 9 is not a must-have for Bears in draft

Taking a wide receiver like LSU’s Malik Nabers with the No. 9 pick in the NFL Draft might not be a priority for the Bears. Matthew Hinton/AP

Bears fans’ desperation for a franchise quarterback is only a step or two ahead of their desperation for a franchise wide receiver.

Former general manager Phil Emery was a hero when he traded for three-time Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall six weeks after being hired in 2012. Alas, it was all too fleeting. Three years later, Marshall was such a drag on the culture at Halas Hall that Emery’s successor, Ryan Pace, was hailed nearly as much for getting rid of Marshall as Emery was for acquiring him.

That’s typical of the Bears’ luck with wide receivers…