LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — The Chicago Bears once thought Cedric Benson might be their next great running back. Now, he's fighting for a job.

The Bears addressed a glaring need on the offensive line when they drafted tackle Chris Williams of Vanderbilt with the 14th pick on Saturday and sent a loud message to Benson by taking Tulane's Matt Forte in the second round.

"Maybe (Benson's) not the featured back we thought he'd be," general manager Jerry Angelo said. "He played well as a complementary back to Thomas (Jones). ... We needed to make sure we protected that position. How it works out, if they complement one another, one takes the bull by the horns, so to speak, and he's the guy, you can't have too many good backs. We have to be a running football team."

Last season, the Bears simply ran in place and finished 7-9, one year after reaching the Super Bowl. Benson struggled before suffering a season-ending ankle injury, which explains why the Bears went for a running back with the 44th overall pick, but he also had little room to run behind an aging and ineffective line.

That's where Williams comes in.

Chicago chose him over tackles Branden Albert of Virginia and Pittsburgh's Jeff Otah. One potential target came off the board when Denver took tackle Ryan Clady of Boise State with the 12th pick, and Chicago opted not to spend its first-rounder on Illinois running back Rashard Mendenhall.

"Our No. 1 need was left tackle in the offseason," Angelo said. "We wanted to get a tackle (in the draft), and obviously, if we had our choice it would be left tackle. We feel real good about our selection."

Williams was in on 836 offensive plays last season and allowed one sack while registering 102 knockdowns, including 12 blocks that led to touchdowns. He is just the second Vanderbilt offensive lineman drafted in the first round, the first since Will Wolford was the 20th pick overall in 1986.

Williams alternated between left tackle and guard in 2005 while helping protect quarterback Jay Cutler, the 11th overall pick by Denver in 2006. He settled in at tackle in 2006 and 2007 and allowed just two sacks.

"It's great to be a Bear, playing for a team with so much tradition," Williams said. "I'm speechless right now."

The draft was the latest big event in what has been a whirlwind for Williams, who got married April 5 in Louisiana.

Williams joins a team that got hit hard by injuries on both sides of the ball after winning the NFC championship behind a dominant defense and an offensive line that ranked among the league's best.

After taking Williams, the Bears went with Forte rather than a quarterback, even though Louisville's Brian Brohm and Michigan's Chad Henne were still on the board. Known for his balance and ability to gain ground after taking a hit, Forte ran for 2,127 yards and 23 touchdowns last season. He also caught 32 passes for 282 yards and can block — areas where Benson struggles.

"They want a guy to come in and compete," Forte said. "Hopefully, we'll both play good. If not, I don't know what's going to happen."

Chicago's defense figures to be better if it stays healthy, but there are questions surrounding an offense that ranked 27th last season. With four starters on the line in their 30s, the Bears averaged a league-low 3.1 yards per carry and ranked 30th with just 83.1 yards rushing per game. And their quarterbacks fared no better, getting sacked 43 times — ninth in the NFL.

Williams dismissed a report that he had neck problems, saying "I don't have any neck issues."

Angelo said the Bears examined him several times and found nothing more than the usual wear and tear.

There were also questions about Williams' aggressiveness because he didn't retaliate when someone took some swings at him at the Senior Bowl. Then again, he showed restraint.

"You have to show discipline as a player and be smart," he said.

Coach Lovie Smith said Williams is probably a more polished pass-protector than run-blocker, but "I think he does both well."

Chicago needed to replace departed veterans Fred Miller at right tackle and nine-time Pro Bowl pick Ruben Brown at left guard.

Angelo has a solid record drafting defensive players, and a spotty one on offense. Two high-profile selections — quarterback Rex Grossman and Benson — have battled injuries and inconsistency.

Grossman, the 22nd pick in 2003, got benched after the third game due to poor play. He returned for five games and was more effective before injuring his left knee. The Bears traded away Thomas Jones after the 2006 season to make room for Benson, the fourth overall choice in 2005. But rather than develop into a star, he averaged just 3.4 yards per carry before a broken ankle ended his season.

Angelo said the Bears talked "quite a bit" about Mendenhall but waited to address the running back situation.

He also said he fielded several "very aggressive" offers from teams looking to trade up in the draft but decided to stand pat. Although the Bears wouldn't commit to starting him immediately, they believe Williams will be a quick study.

After all, he scored a 32 on the Wunderlic test. Given his background, that wasn't a shocker. His older sister is an attorney, while his twin sister is studying chemistry, and his father supervises an electrical plant.

"I feel like they drafted me to fill a need," said Williams, who graduated in December. "I'm definitely coming in trying to start. ... First-round picks are guys that are going to play."