Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press

Over the past three years under former general manager Phil Emery, the Bears have drafted in the first round based on need. With Ryan Pace at the helm now, will that tradition continue?

Cornerback Kyle Fuller (2014), guard Kyle Long (2013) and linebacker Shea McClellin (2012) are the last three first-round picks for the Bears. All three were the result of a glaring team need at the time, and it could be argued that all three players were a reach at the spots in which they were drafted.

McClellin was largely considered a second-round pick, as was Long. Fuller was the second corner taken, but many had him going later in the first round. To date, only Long has made it to a Pro Bowl (2013, 2014), although Fuller did have a solid rookie year.

As we shift focus to Ryan Pace, we have to take a look at the history of the New Orleans Saints to gauge what he might do this year. Pace was in the Saints front office for 14 years.

Since 2010, the Saints have had five first-round picks. Of those five picks, New Orleans went defense three times and offense twice.

Patrick Robinson (2010), Cameron Jordan (2011), Mark Ingram Jr. (2011), Kenny Vaccaro (2013) and Brandin Cooks (2014) have all been solid picks, especially given the fact that the Saints drafted at No. 20 or worse for all the selections except Vaccaro, who was drafted 15th overall.

The Saints do a nice job of walking the fine line of drafting based on need as well as taking the best player available. As Pace prepares for his first draft in Chicago, expect him to bring the same philosophy.

At seventh overall, the Bears have a good chance to take an impact player. Pace has done a good job adding high-value pieces to the defense without locking in players to long-term deals.

The Bears have short-term needs at free safety, wide receiver and outside linebacker. They have a long-term need at quarterback and are staring at a multitude of options from their current draft position.

This ensures Pace will take the best player on the board, as he knows he has multiple holes to fill. It's once again the Saints' philosophy of taking the best player available while filling a need.

Defense is likely still the direction the Bears would love to go in the first round. USC defensive end Leonard Williams or Florida edge-rusher Dante Fowler should be atop the team's big board.

If those players are gone, then the second tier is likely comprised of Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota, West Virginia wide receiver Kevin White, Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper, Clemson edge-rusher Vic Beasley and Nebraska outside linebacker Randy Gregory.

Any guess as to which player is better—or more importantly, who the Bears like more at this point—is pure speculation. It's very tantalizing to envision pairing Alshon Jeffery with a receiver of White's or Cooper's caliber.

Marcus Mariota could be the wild card of the entire draft. If he slides down to the Bears, they have an interesting decision to make. Do they take the Heisman Trophy winner or trade out of the pick to accumulate more draft picks?

Unless Jay Cutler does a complete about-face over the next two seasons, he's not the Bears' long-term quarterback. They need to look for his replacement and Mariota could be the perfect choice.

It would also be tough to pass on an edge-rusher. We haven't seen a draft with this much talent at the position since 2011. Chicago is a franchise known for defense. Selecting one of these freakishly athletic pass-rushers might be too tempting to pass up.

Pace will do his due diligence over the next few weeks to put a final grade on each of these players. Rest assured he will take the player left on the board with the best grade, no matter what position it is.