Bears Blitz

Published by Sigmund Bloom on March 20, 2012
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears’ new GM Phil Emery has already made his mark on the team’s draft this year by trading away the 80th pick and their 2013 third-round pick for Miami Dolphins WR Brandon Marshall.

Otherwise, he has inherited a roster constructed by previous GM Jerry Angelo. A look back at the Bears‘ last five draft reveals what Angelo has left Emery to work with.

2007

After losing the Super Bowl, the Bears were picking one spot from the bottom of each round. They took ultra-athletic TE Greg Olsen in the first, but he never hit his ceiling in Chicago, eventually being dealt to Carolina for a third-round pick after not fitting into the Mike Martz offense.

Angelo moved from the bottom of the second to the top by sending Thomas Jones to the Jets, and then added an extra third, fifth and 2008 third from San Diego for moving back down to the bottom of the round (San Diego took Eric Weddle, a standout safety, which has been a problem position for the Bears).

Eventual second-round pick DE Dan Bazuin didn’t even last a season, and the extra third-round RB Garrett Wolfe was only a special teams contributor before heading to the UFL. The Bears’ third-round pick was used on LB Michael Okwo, who lasted two years in Chicago.

In the second half of the draft, the Bears got OL Josh Beekman in the fourth, who did start for a full season in 2008 before moving on in 2010.

Fifth-round safety Kevin Payne, acquired with San Diego’s pick, also started for a full season in 2008 before he was traded for a seventh-round pick in 2010. The Bears’ natural fifth-rounder was used on Corey Graham, who has been a solid starter at times and a good special teamer. He is currently a free agent.

Angelo traded his sixth-round pick for Adam Archuleta. Archuleta lasted one year with the team.

Injuries pushed seventh-round DB Trumaine McBride into the starting lineup as a rookie, but he was cut in 2009 after getting hurt. The Bears got the pick used to take McBride for OL Lennie Friedman.

The team’s other seventh-round pick, OL Aaron Brant, didn’t last through training camp because of knee problems.

Grade: C-

2008

Back in the middle of the first, the Bears selected OT Chris Williams, who has had durability issues but did start at right guard last year after first-round pick Gabe Carimi went down.

Second-round pick Matt Forte has been a franchise back, and third-round WR Earl Bennett has flashed his collegiate connection with Jay Cutler when he has been healthy. The extra third from the Chargers deal in 2007 turned out to be DT Marcus Harrison, who started half a season in 2009 but never panned out before moving on.

Angelo again had some solid hits in the second half of the draft. Fourth-round safety Craig Steltz has hung around and started some games. The Bears traded down twice in the fourth before landing him, picking up an extra seventh and bumping a sixth to a fifth in the process.

They used their natural fifth on CB Zach Bowman, who has alternatively started or provided good depth. The second fifth-rounder became TE Kellen Davis, who has been a quality starter before entering free agency this year.

The Bears ended up with five seventh-round picks in all, including three compensatory picks. None lasted more than two years with the team.

Grade: B+

2009

Angelo traded away their first and third as part of the Jay Cutler deal, and traded down from the second to the third with Seattle to pick up an extra fourth-round pick to make up for the shortfall of picks.

The first third-round pick was used on physical freak Jarron Gilbert, who amounted to less than two seasons before being cut. Compensatory third-round WR Juaquin Iglesias lasted just a few months longer than Gilbert.

Yet again, the draft’s second half yielded more for the team, as a pair of fourth-round picks turned into solid depth CB D.J. Moore and DL Henry Melton, and an extra fifth acquired in the Cutler deal became Johnny Knox, a starting WR and a deep threat.

The Bears’ natural fifth-rounder, LB Marcus Freeman, didn’t even make it to Week 1 of his rookie year. The Bears basically traded Brian Griese and a seventh-round pick for OL Dan Buenning, who lasted one year with the team.

They also selected safety Al Afalava in the round, who started in his rookie year but only lasted that one year with the team. Seventh-round pick OL Lance Louis has been adequate depth and started for most of 2011 at right tackle, while fellow compensatory seventh-round WR Derek Kinder was released before his rookie season started.

Grade: C

2010

Without a first-round pick because of the Cutler deal, and without a second-round pick because of a trade for DE Gaines Adams (who tragically died in 2010), Angelo once again waited until the third round to pick, this time selecting safety Major Wright, another attempt to plug the perpetual hole in the middle of the secondary. There are signs that this solution could take.

Fourth-round DE Corey Wootton is still developing but could contribute in 2012.

The fifth round brought DB Joshua Moore, who didn’t last through his rookie year. Sixth-round QB Dan Lefevour didn’t, either.

Seventh-round OT J’Marcus Webb is still with the team, and in fact he started at left tackle for 28 games over the last two seasons, although the Bears faithful would love to see someone else there next season.

Grade: C

2011

The Bears got who they wanted, but not without controversy, as a trade-up with the Ravens was never called into league headquarters by the team.

Gabe Carimi missed most of last year with a knee injury, but he is expected to start at right tackle this year. Angelo gave up a fourth-round pick to move up in the second for DT Stephen Paea, who ended up starting and being an instant success story.

In the third, the team got safety Chris Conte, who, like 2010 third-rounder Major Wright, was given a vote of confidence by head coach Lovie Smith recently.

Fifth-round QB Nathan Enderle is still with the team as a third-stringer, but Josh McCown could take his roster spot in camp. Sixth-round pick J.T. Thomas missed last season with a back injury and then got arrested recently.

Grade: B+

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