Team-by-Team Draft Review: Chicago Bears

George Kritikos Posted On May 15, 2015

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Suffering their first losing season (5-11) since 2009, the Chicago Bears were faced with several tough decisions. The front office and coaching staff were replaced as Ryan Pace and John Fox are at the helms. Former mainstay Brandon Marshall was exiled to the New York Jets for a fifth round pick and Jay Cutler was shopped around with zero league interest. With several needs going into the draft, the Bears had the seventh overall pick and six overall during the 2015 NFL draft. Here are the results, along with some analysis and an undrafted free agent (UDFA) to watch.

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First Round – Kevin White, WR West Virginia

Back in November, the Dynasty Scouts team took a look at Kevin White. Many of their evaluations held true through the scrutiny of pre-draft season. The sure hands, the fearlessness over the middle, the determination after the catch all remain hallmarks of his game. It was the little things that needed work; the ability to separate quickly, developing more after the catch moves, refining certain routes. Combine a largely positive on-field evaluation with a remarkable combine performance including a 4.35 40-yard dash and many in the draft and dynasty community had him as the top receiver over Amari Cooper. Whether that is misguided remains to be seen but the NFL draft favored Cooper, but White may have ended up in the best situation his draft stock could afford.

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In being drafted to Chicago, White is in a position to learn from an ascending talent in Alshon Jeffery while having less pressure to succeed immediately. Add in pass catching aficionados Martellus Bennett and Matt Forte and White’s role has a ceiling of the fourth option in this remade Chicago offense for 2015. This affords him the opportunity to go through growing pains with a great support system and let White gradually work his way up the passing game food chain.

If there are two concerns to have with White’s new destination, they are the aforementioned Cutler and Fox. With the former, White will be contending with a quarterback that has cultivated a throwing style of beautiful sadness. The mechanics never look right (throwing off the back foot, across the body, underhanded!) but there are enough positive outcomes to make a receiving core productive. Fox, however, is not one to typically feature more than one receiver heavily. His time in Denver is an exception due to the presence of Peyton Manning, not a fundamental change in overall philosophy. Expect the Bears to run heavily and take fewer chances with White being their intermediate receiver along with Bennett.

Overall, I expect White to thrive in this offense eventually with his rookie season being a sheltered environment of learning. There will be flashes of greatness but I am not anticipating a level of consistency Mike Evans and Odell Beckham had right away. I have him as my third ranked dynasty rookie as he will develop into a solid WR2 for your fantasy team.

Round 2 – Eddie Goldman, DT Florida State

Not a pick where fantasy players are enthusiastic, but fans of the Bears were happy with the choice of Goldman. He is the nose tackle in Vic Fangio’s new 3-4 defense and should provide an IDP boost to whomever the Bears decide are their starting inside linebackers. As for those who still play in leagues with a team defense, this is an integral cog in the 3-4 and should help stop the bleeding that was the Bears’ run defense in 2014.

Round 3 – Hroniss Grasu, C Oregon

Another pick that Bears’ fans were happy with and the type that will help the fantasy outlook of others around him. Somewhere, Matt Forte is smiling as he received Grasu and free agent addition Will Montgomery to open holes in the interior of the offensive line. Grasu is likely a guard his rookie year as Montgomery is an experienced center on a one-year deal. Longer term, Grasu takes over the center spot and provides stability that hasn’t been seen since Olin Kreutz left the team.

Round 4 – Jeremy Langford, RB Michigan State

With 2014 rookie Ka’Deem Carey and 2015 free agent acquisition Jacquizz Rodgers already populating the roster behind Forte, Langford is a curious addition to the team. He is the most explosive on the depth chart and with experience at wide receiver and special teams, Langford provides versatility in the pass game and as a return man. There are some rough edges to smooth out as he prefers to bounce runs outside rather than work between the tackles and fight for extra yards.

Forte has been angling for a new contract as his current one expires after the 2015 season. This draft choice along with the hard stance the Bears have made to this point opens up the possibility that the 2016 starter will be someone new. Whether that is Langford or not is unclear but having the approval of the new regime and the low price tag of an early third round rookie pick is worth the gamble.

Round 5 – Adrian Amos, S Penn State

Amos was a much needed selection to provide depth and youth in the secondary. He can play either safety position, although his coverage skills are much more advanced than his ability to play in the box. Amos also has experience as an outside and slot cornerback so he will find a role in the defense quickly, but what that will be is entirely unclear. My IDP brethren at DLF like to remind me that secondary options are fungible so Amos’ dynasty upside is going to vary significantly year to year, even if he gains a starting role.

Round 6 – Tayo Fabuluje, OT Texas Christian

John Fox likes a large offensive line to power his run game and Fabuluje is 6’5” and over 350 pounds. Unsurprisingly, he is very strong and has the arm length (34”) that can keep defensive linemen at bay. Weight has been an ongoing battle for him, as has consistent playing time as Tayo transferred twice due to family issues. He worked three jobs while playing college football to support his sister so motivation will never be a problem. At worst, I see Fabuluje become a backup who can slide inside to guard or a run blocking right tackle in the short-term.

UDFA to Watch – Brian Vogler, TE Alabama

The pickings were slim for undrafted free agents the Bears signed but I like Vogler’s profile. He is a big tight end (6’7”, 262 pounds) and ended up running a sub 4.8 40-yard dash with a 30” vertical, both numbers exceeded expectations. While he is primarily a blocking tight end and Bennett has a grasp on the job, Vogler could easily surpass uninspired backup Dante Rosario (admittedly a John Fox favorite) in time and become a sporadic contributor in the passing game.

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