The waiting game finally ended for the Bears Sunday morning, and by the end of the day they had a large and unique class of athletes.

After more than six hours of the 2009 draft, they finally got to make their first pick: San Jose State defensive lineman Jarron Gilbert, the 68th overall selection. It wasn't until 31 picks later that the Bears made an effort to shore up their most glaring weakness, at wide receiver, by taking Oklahoma's Juaquin Iglesias.

Seven more picks followed, including a defensive end who converted from running back, a fourth-round pick who says he was the best cornerback in the draft, two wide receivers, one of whom was among the fastest players at the Combine, and a 300-pound tight end.

Gilbert converted last season from defensive end to tackle and responded with the best season of his college career. He led the nation in tackles for loss with 22, and also had 9.5 sacks. He was named the Western Athletic Conference's co-defensive player of the year.

"He can play end," Angelo said. "(But) I really like him inside. He's an under tackle for us."

That's the same position that three-time Pro Bowl pick Tommie Harris plays, but the Bears prefer a rotation along the defensive line, using several players on a regular basis, so Gilbert should be able to contribute soon.

"Inside I feel like I'm really quick," he said, "and outside over a tight end, I feel really strong playing that position."

The 6-5, 288-pound Gilbert really came on strong during his senior season and continued to build momentum with an impressive performance at the East-West Shrine game and outstanding test results at the Scouting Combine, including a position-best 40-yard dash time of 4.82.

The knocks on Gilbert are that he faced a lower level of competition in the WAC, but Angelo said he can contribute right now.

"He's ready to go," Angelo said. "We were really happy in terms of the jump that we saw him take as a senior. He took a quantum step in his senior season. It was irrelevant what his competition was. They played Cal-Davis, they played Nebraska, and then he goes down to the East-West game and you kept seeing the same (good) things."

The Bears waited until the second-to-last pick of the third round to get Iglesias.

He has good size (6-1, 210) and soft hands and was a full-time starter for the Sooners the past three seasons. Iglesias showed improvement every year, catching 74 passes for 1,150 yards as a senior. He lacks great speed (4.53 in the 40) but shows quickness as a route runner and after the catch.

"He's been the go-to receiver at Oklahoma the last two years," Bears director of college scouting Greg Gabriel said. "He's going to fit in good here."

Iglesias lacks a little speed, but not so for fifth-rounder Johnny Knox, who ran a 4.34 40 at the Combine, and in two years at Division-II Abilene Christian he caught 118 passes for 2,227 yards and 30 touchdowns.

At the top of the fourth round, the Bears took Texas defensive end Henry Melton 104th overall with a pick they got dealing their second-round pick to the Seahawks on Saturday.

Melton is a project who may take some time to develop. He was a 270-pound running back in his first two seasons with the Longhorns and scored 10 touchdowns for the 2005 national champions as a true freshman. The 6-3 1/4, 280-pounder didn't start until his senior season and is still very raw as a defensive end but has outstanding athleticism for the position. And he doesn't lack for confidence.

"It's a great selection," he said of the Bears' decision to draft him. "They got a great player."

Melton wasn't invited to the Combine, but after his pro day said: "(The scouts) got to see the awesome athleticism they didn't know I had."

Vanderbilt cornerback D.J. Moore, who came out after his junior season and is a fraction under 5-foot-9, makes Melton appear as if he suffers from low self-esteem.

"I didn't believe I was going to get too much better than what I was," he said of his decision to leave school early. "I felt I was the best cornerback in the draft."

Seventh-round pick Lance Louis showed the Bears he had the athleticism for tight end when he ran a 4.75 40 at 300 pounds.

"I've never seen a guy that big run that fast," Angelo said. "He's got some special traits."

BEST PICK: CB D.J. Moore. The Bears were able to get a seasoned SEC veteran cornerback in the middle of the fourth round (No. 119 overall). Moore lacks some size at 192 pounds and a fraction under 5-foot-9, but he makes up for it with other attributes. He's an excellent ball athlete who had 13 career interceptions and has started since early in his freshman season. He also returned punts and kickoffs for the Commodores and caught seven passes for 143 yards (20.4-yard average) last season and carried the ball nine times for 76 yards (8.4-yard average).

COULD SURPRISE: Small-school WR Johnny Knox might be easy to identify on the field -- he's the fast one. He ran a 4.34 40 at the Combine and put up huge numbers at Division-II Abilene Christian, where, in just two seasons, he caught 118 passes for 2,227 yards and 30 touchdowns. He also showed soft hands at the Combine and looked like he belonged with the big boys.

A closer look at the Bears' picks:

Round 3/68 -- Jarron Gilbert, DL, 6-5, 288, San Jose State

Moved from end to tackle as a senior and had by far his best season, leading the nation with 22 tackles for loss and also added 9.5 sacks. WAC's co-defensive player of the year in 2008. Started 12 games as a junior with 7.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. Had 7.5 tackles for loss and five sacks as a sophomore. Became a starter as a redshirt freshman. Has a frame to get bigger. Possesses excellent athleticism and his 4.82 40-time was the best among defensive linemen at the Scouting Combine. Also tied for the best vertical jump with a 35 1/2-inch leap. Father Daren was an offensive lineman who played four years for the Saints (1985-88) after being a second-round draft pick (38th overall).

Round 3/99 -- Juaquin Iglesias, WR, 6-1, 210, Oklahoma

A three-year starter who improved every year, Iglesias caught 74 passes for 1,150 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior after catching 68 passes for 907 yards as a junior. Started 11 games as a sophomore with 41 catches for 514 yards. Effective kickoff returner throughout career, averaging 26.4 yards. Has only average speed (4.53 in the 40) but shows good quickness in route running and picking up yardage after the catch. Ideal slot receiver willing to do the tough jobs that come with working the underneath areas between the hash marks.

Round 4/105 -- Henry Melton, DE, 6-3, 280, Texas

A project who could take some time to develop because of his limited experience at end. Backup running back in his first two seasons. Carried 132 times for 625 yards (4.7-yard average) and 16 touchdowns. Didn't become a starter until senior season and even then didn't post great numbers (29 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 4 sacks) but showed fine athleticism for the position. Has great physical tools, runs well and has excellent agility. Arrested for DUI in 2007 and served a three-game suspension.

Round 4/119 -- D.J. Moore, CB, 5-9, 192, Vanderbilt

Came out early with one year of eligibility remaining. Undersized player who has marginal speed for the position (4.59 in the 40), but makes up for those shortcomings with excellent instincts and ball skills. Lacks the size and speed to be a No. 1 corner but could be effective very soon as a No. 2 corner or a nickel CB covering the slot receiver. Had 13 career interceptions. Has been a starter since early in his freshman season, starting 34 games in just three years. Versatile and athletic, returned punts and kickoffs for the Commodores and caught seven passes for 143 yards (20.4-yard average) last season and carried the ball nine times for 76 yards (8.4-yard average).

Round 5/140 -- Johnny Knox, WR, 5-11, 186, Abilene Christian

The Div. II product caught everyone's eye during pre-draft workouts when he ran the 40 in 4.29 and 4.34. Knox caught 118 passes during his two years at Abilene for 2,227 yards and 30 touchdowns. He was the biggest threat of a high-flying spread offense that averaged 52.3 points per game in 2008. The Houston native had to play junior-college ball and Div. II due to grade issues. Including his juco seasons, Knox averaged 19.9 yards per catch and one touchdown for every 3.8 receptions.

Round 5/154 -- Marcus Freeman, LB, 6-1, 239, Ohio State

A three-year starter for the three-time Big Ten champs, Freeman produced his best in the biggest games. He stacked up 15 tackles in the 2007 BCS title game against Florida, then produced 14 stops in the 2008 BCS title game against LSU. Scouts liked the 4.51 40 that he ran on OSU's Pro Day, but his strength (he benched 225 pounds 30 times at the NFL Combine) supposedly doesn't translate when taking on blockers. The Bears see him as a weak-side backer who can play all three LB spots.

Round 6/190 -- Al Afalava, SS, 5-11, 215, Oregon State

The three-year starter didn't receive an invite to the NFL Combine, but he impressed the Bears in a private workout. He uses his 4.48 speed to max effect when hitting people, particularly in the running game, but his coverage skills are uncertain. He posted 36 tackles in 11 games during his senior year with two interceptions, eight pass breakups and two tackles for loss.

Round 7/246 -- Lance Louis, TE, 6-3, 303, San Diego State

Started 11 games at right tackle during his senior year, but his uncommon blend of size and speed (4.8 40) has the Bears planning to move him back to his original college position. The Louisiana native caught 14 passes for 195 yards and one TD in his two seasons before shifting to right guard in 2007. He then bumped out to right tackle during 2008 fall camp.

Round 7/251 -- Derek Kinder, WR, 6-1, 210, Pittsburgh

This fifth-year senior flanker would have been more prized had he been in the 2007 draft. Kinder was a Biletnikoff Award semifinalist in the fall of 2006 when he caught 57 passes for 847 yards and six TDs, but he missed the 2007 season after tearing the ACL in his right knee. He recovered to post 36 catches for 422 yards and three scores last fall.