Bears Trade Up, Draft Stephen Paea
CHICAGO (CBS) The Chicago Bears traded up from the end of the second round to draft defensive tackle Stephen Paea from Oregon State.
The Bears selected Paea with the 21st pick in the second round, 53rd overall.
The 6'1" 303-pounder set the NFL Combine bench press record when he benched 225 lbs. 49 times.
Defensive tackle was a position of need for the Bears, and Paea is a big, physical player who fills that need.
In three season at Oregon State, Paea recorded 127 tackles and 13 sacks.
The Bears and Washington Redskins swapped second round draft picks and the Bears also gave Washington their fourth round pick.
The Redskins had previously acquired the pick from the Indianapolis Colts.
On Thursday, the Bears selected Gabe Carimi, an offensive tackle from the University of Wisconsin, with their first round pick (29th overall).
Former Bear and 2011 NFL Hall of Fame inductee Richard Dent made the official announcement at the podium at Radio City Music Hall in New York.
