CHICAGO BEARS: DRAFTING VS TRADING
Last week the Chicago Bears traded two 1st round picks, a 3rd round pick & quarterback Kyle Orton for Bronco starting QB, Jay Cutler & Denver's 5th round pick. So who got the best of this deal? If you examine the Bears draft history, you'd come to the conclusion the Bears, given that history, come away from this deal the winner.
Since 1995, the Bears, using 13 first round picks, have picked exactly 2 pro bowl players, Brian Urlacher & Tommie Harris. Their last 2 first rounders, TE Greg Olsen & OT Chris Williams get a pass, many believe it takes 3 years to properly grade a player. Former Bear, CB Walt Harris, was a good starter for them & OT Marc Colombo was a solid starter, if only for 3 seasons. But the balance of their 1st round picks were busts. Starting with 4th overall pick, RB Cedric Benson, 5th overall pick, RB Curtis Enis, 8th overall pick, WR David Terrell, plus QB Cade McNown, QB Rex Grossman, RB Rashaan Salaam & DE Michael Haynes.
Pretty impressive eh? Throw in hot 2nd round selections, WR Mark Bradley, DT Tank Marshall, DE Russell Davis, DE Pat Riley & DE Dan Bazuin. Riley & Bazuin played a total of 1 game for the Bears. Not a great endorsement for the scouting department. In fact, the Bears' exercise in draft futility is only rivaled by the Detroit Lions & San Francisco Forty-Niners during the same period. I found it amazing the Bears were able to make the playoffs 3 times & the Super Bowl in 2007. That's tough to do drafting this poorly, plus the Bears have never been big players in the free agent market.
Trade 1st round draft picks for established skill position players? For the Chicago Bears, it's an option they should have explored years ago.
Since 1995, the Bears, using 13 first round picks, have picked exactly 2 pro bowl players, Brian Urlacher & Tommie Harris. Their last 2 first rounders, TE Greg Olsen & OT Chris Williams get a pass, many believe it takes 3 years to properly grade a player. Former Bear, CB Walt Harris, was a good starter for them & OT Marc Colombo was a solid starter, if only for 3 seasons. But the balance of their 1st round picks were busts. Starting with 4th overall pick, RB Cedric Benson, 5th overall pick, RB Curtis Enis, 8th overall pick, WR David Terrell, plus QB Cade McNown, QB Rex Grossman, RB Rashaan Salaam & DE Michael Haynes.
Pretty impressive eh? Throw in hot 2nd round selections, WR Mark Bradley, DT Tank Marshall, DE Russell Davis, DE Pat Riley & DE Dan Bazuin. Riley & Bazuin played a total of 1 game for the Bears. Not a great endorsement for the scouting department. In fact, the Bears' exercise in draft futility is only rivaled by the Detroit Lions & San Francisco Forty-Niners during the same period. I found it amazing the Bears were able to make the playoffs 3 times & the Super Bowl in 2007. That's tough to do drafting this poorly, plus the Bears have never been big players in the free agent market.
Trade 1st round draft picks for established skill position players? For the Chicago Bears, it's an option they should have explored years ago.
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