DRAFT SPOTLIGHT

Tight ends

Grading the Bears’ need: Low. Even with Shaheen still on his rookie contract, the Bears rank fourth in the NFL in salary- cap space allotted to tight ends in 2018, according to spotrac. com. Sims ($ 6.33 million) has the 12th highest cap number in the league. Burton ( 5.675 million) is 13th.

On the roster: Burton ($ 8 million annual average value), Sims ($ 6 million), Shaheen ($ 1.47 million), Daniel Brown ($ 925,000), Ben Braunecker ($ 540,000), Colin Thompson ($ 555,000).

Top five draft prospects:

1. Dakota Dallas State: Goedert, Had South 72 receptions for 1,111 yards and seven touchdowns last year after 92 receptions for 1,293 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2016. 2. Hayden Hurst, South Carolina: Former Pittsburgh Pirates minor- league player with a 95 mph fastball. Will be 25 as a rookie this season. 3. Mike Gesicki, Penn State: Great athlete who could blossomin the NFL after playing a secondary role in Penn State’s Saquon Barkley- led offense. 4. Mark Andrews, Oklahoma: Mackey Award winner as the best tight end in the nation. In three seasons, Andrews had 22 touchdowns with only 112 receptions. 5. Jordan Akins, UCF: Former Texas Rangersminor- league player; converted wide receiver with big- play production for UCF in 2017.

I’m intrigued by: Wisconsin’s Troy Fumagalli, a Waubonsie Valley graduate, is a former walk- on who is missing the index finger on his left hand. He isn’t a great athlete but does have a knack for getting the job done. He is a late bloomer whose competitiveness goes a long way.

Draft facts

When: April 26- 28. Where: AT& T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. TV: ESPN, NFL Network and Fox- 32. The Bears’ seven picks: Round 1 ( No. 8 overall), 2 ( No. 39), 4 ( Nos. 105 and 115), 5 ( No. 145), 6 ( No. 181) and 7 ( No. 224).