INDIANAPOLIS — One emerges from the bunch only once in a great while: a mammoth offensive lineman capable of changing his team's fortunes with a simple push of the hands or sliding of the feet.

Joe Thomas was that guy. The third overall pick by the Cleveland Browns last season vaulted close to the top of everyone's draft board, then backed the high acclaim with a Pro Bowl rookie season.

The Browns might not have experienced such a dramatic turnaround, from 4-12 to 10-6, had Thomas not started all 16 games at left tackle. He even helped turn unknown quarterback Derek Anderson into a Pro Bowler.

"They are few and far between," Browns coach Romeo Crennel said of impact rookie offensive linemen. "You just don't know until you get them in there and see what they can do.

"But we felt very fortunate that we got a Joe Thomas because now he's proven that he can play in the league, and he'll be a good left tackle for a long time."

The Bears certainly could use a Joe Thomas. Part of the off-season overhaul entailed exiling veteran linemen Fred Miller and Ruben Brown. Finding replacements at right tackle and left guard should be easy, but there is no guarantee those contributions will be felt immediately.

Unless a trade is in the works, the Bears are unlikely to land coveted tackle Jake Long of Michigan, expected to be a top-five pick. The Bears have the 14th selection but haven't used a first-rounder on an offensive lineman since tackle Marc Colombo in 2002, general manager Jerry Angelo's first pick after joining the organization. Colombo is now a starter with the Cowboys.

Even without Long, the Bears should have good alternatives. USC's Sam Baker, Virginia's Branden Albert, Boise State's Ryan Clady, Vanderbilt's Chris Williams and Pittsburgh's Jeff Otah are solid prospects. Clady's stock might fall a bit after a pectoral injury at the NFL scouting combine ended his workouts prematurely.

"After Long, they're all pretty much the same," said ex-NFL offensive lineman Jamie Dukes, now an analyst for the NFL Network. "There is no Joe Thomas in this draft. But these tackles and guards, there are guys here who can help the Bears. These guys are better than the ones they have right now."

The Bears have to be the judge of that, and the evaluation process is at a crucial stage. Offensive line coach Harry Hiestand said the team had narrowed its list to 20 offensive linemen heading into the final day of the combine.

"It's an overall evaluation of everything," Hiestand said. "It starts with his film and how he competes, how he blocks. Then you have to find out about his work ethic based on the people he's been around. Is he willing to work? Is he willing to train? Is he willing to be totally committed to it? To me, those are the key ingredients.

"Impact players in this draft? I couldn't answer that yet. This is a step for us, coming down and seeing them run around and jump. But I'm studying a lot of film."

The Bears' draft needs should be clear in the next few weeks, with free agency to begin Friday. If making a play for a top free-agent lineman such as Alan Faneca is not an option, drafting one would likely be a must.

"If the Bears are looking for a guard, (Albert) is the one," Dukes said. "I don't think you go badly with grabbing him.

"The bottom line is, there are some athletic guys here who just need some coaching."