Bears Draft Grade B This would be an A if they could draft a new coach

April 27, 2020

Prior to the 2018 season the Bears traded for Khalil Mack, one of the top defensemen in the NFL, ceding two first round draft picks. This may seem to be a high price to pay. However, this did prevent general manager Ryan Pace from picking another number one draft bust. You have to give Pace credit for his picks in subsequent rounds.  Defensive lineman Eddie Goldman and offensive lineman Cody Whitehair were second round picks. Eddie Jackson and Jordan Howard were fourth round picks. All four have been selected to play in a Pro-Bowl. The problem is that somehow his moves left the Bears without a third and fourth round pick.

In the 2020 draft the Bears chose Cole Kmet to be the tenth tight end on the roster. There is a feel good angle to this pick. Growing up in the Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights, he has always been a Bears fan. This was a dream come true. He was a standout baseball and football player in high school and decided to play football at Notre Dame. He is very athletic and the best tight end in the draft. I guarantee he will be better than Pace’s last tight end pick, Adam Shaheen. He was a second round pick in the same year they drafted quarterback Mitch Trubisky in the first round. That could be one of the worst drafts in Bear history. Among the sea of tight ends is free agent Jimmy Graham, once a premiere player. However, he is 33 years old and there may not be much more left in his tank. Kmet should get plenty of playing time this year and is probably the tight end of the future.

Pace was smart enough to know that before his next pick the cornerback they needed would be available. Unlike many rookies, Jaylon Johnson should be able to start immediately. He was a first team All-Pac 12 selection and an All-American in his junior season. The reason he was available in the second round was due to injuries. He played most of last year with a torn labrum in his right shoulder and had surgery. The Bears feel he’ll recover in time especially if the season’s start is delayed. He also had two labrum injuries in his left shoulder that were successfully repaired.

Now that free-agency and the draft are over, what is there left to do? The defense can return to 2018 form with Robert Quinn replacing Leonard Floyd at outside linebacker and players staying healthy e.g. Akiem Hicks. It would be nice to acquire another safety.

I have a different slant on the Bear quarterback situation. Many are assuming Nick Foles will be the starter. Presently, I think this is Trubisky’s job to lose. The Bear brass see no reason to extend Trubisky’s contract and guarantee a fifth year. Unless he has a remarkable turn-around, this is his last year as a Bear. If Foles is the quarterback this year and next, it will be important for Pace to draft a franchise QB in the first round whom Foles can mentor. The Bears are in need of a speedy receiver. They did choose a speedster, Darnell Moody out of Tulane. However, he is 5’10”, 175 lbs. and was the 26^th receiver selected. If the Bears hadn’t frittered their way out of round three and four they could have gotten a much better prospect.