Bearing Down on the Draft

Now that the Newness of the 2022 NFL Draft has waned, and the 11 new draftees (plus 16 UDFAs, plus upwards of 40+ camp invitees) have started rookie camp, I decided that it was time to unique reflect on my favorite team's draft.  Instead of just analyzing the draft day selections and trades that gave the Bears 11 picks, instead of the 6 they possessed entering the draft, I am going to choose, in order, my favorite Bears' first-round picks since I have been alive.  This is not my ranking of the best players, although being a great player enhances your chances of finishing high in this list, just my favorite picks.  For the most part, I will offer no analysis, but I might in certain circumstances.

For a time frame, I was born in 1973, however I was born after the draft that year, so this covers only those first round picks from 1974 through last week.  Given that in some years the Bears had 2 first round picks, there are 54 total picks to rank.  Here we go, in ascending order ...

54.  2018 - None (Involved in the Mitchell Trubisky trade, See number 53)

53.  2017 - Mitchell Trubisky, QB, North Carolina - So, I think he is a lot better than some players on this list, but as a draft pick?!  C'MON MAN!  DeShaun Watson was the pick!

52.  2015 - Kevin White, WR, West Virginia

51.  2012 - Shea McClellin, DE/OLB, Boise State - He is only as high as he is because of the Aaron Rodgers play.

50.  1998 - Curtis Enis, RB, Penn State - So, Curtis Enis is this low not because he ended up being a horrible player (his career was shortened by knee injuries), but because the Bears already had Raymont Harris and Rashaan Salaam on the roster.  Not great, but way better than a receiving corps consisting of Curtis Conway and Bobby Engram and Ricky Proehl.  Why do I mention wide receivers?  Because Randy Moss was available at this pick!!!  I was actually working at my bar (I didn't own it, but I OWNED it), during the draft, and I disavowed my allegiance to the Bears because of this pick.  Yes, I know, short lived, but still.

49.  2002 - Marc Columbo, T, Boston College - Columbo was a decent player, but this pick was bad because the Bears held onto this pick rather than sending it to the New England Patriots for Drew Bledsoe, who could have led them for a couple of years until the Bears found their permanent QB (which I hope is Justin Fields.

48.  2003 - Michael Haynes, DE, Penn State

47.  2011 - Gabe Carimi, T, Wisconsin

46.  1974 - Dave Gallagher, DT, Michigan

45.  1974 - Waymond Bryant, LB, Tennessee State

44.  2005 - Cedric Benson, RB, Texas - He cried on stage because his dream of being drafted had been fulfilled.  Now, ordinarily I don't care if someone is emotional at an appropriate moment, but Benson knew he was going to not only be drafted, but land somewhere in the top 6 or 8 since the season ended.

43.  1977 - Ted Albrecht, T, California

42.  1976 - Dennis Lick, T, Wisconsin

41.  2008 - Chris Williams, T, Vanderbilt

40.  1999 - Cade McNown, QB, UCLA

39.  1994 - John Thierry, DE, Alcorn State 

38.  1988 - Brad Muster, FB, Stanford

37.  2010 - None

36.  2009 - None

35.  2006 - None

34.  1997 - None

33.  1978 - None

32.  2003 - Rex Grossman, QB, Florida

31.  2001 - David Terrell, WR, Michigan

30.  1988 - Wendell Davis, WR, LSU

29.  1991 - Stan Thomas, T, Texas

28.  2020 - None (Khalil Mack Trade, 2nd number 1 traded)

27.  1995 - Rashaan Salaam, RB, Colorado

26.  1987 - Jim Harbaugh, QB, Michigan

25.  1979 - Al Harris, DE, Arizona State

24.  1992 - Alonzo Spellman, DE, Ohio State

23.  2013 - Kyle Long, G, Oregon

22.  1996 - Walt Harris, CB, Mississippi State

21.  1985 - William Perry, DT, Clemson

20.  2016 - Leonard Floyd, LB, Georgia - I LOVED this pick at the time.  Didn't really fulfill his potential in Chicago, but has been better since he left.

19.  1986 - Neal Anderson, RB, Florida

18.  1993 - Curtis Conway, WR, USC

17.  2022 - None (Fields Trade)

16.  2014 - Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech

15.  1989 - Donnell Woolford, CB, Clemson

14.  2004 - Tommie Harris, DT, Oklahoma - His 2004 highlight tape shown after his selection at the draft was AMAZING!

13.  1983 - Willie Gault, WR, Tennessee

12.  1980 - Otis Wilson, LB, Louisville

11.  1990 - Mark Carrier, S, USC

10.  1979 - Dan Hampton, DT, Arkansas

9.  1981 - Keith Van Horne, T, USC

8.  2007 - Greg Olsen, TE, Miami - I am a huge Miami Hurricanes fan!!!  G-REG!!!

7.  2000 - Brian Urlacher, LB, New Mexico

6.  2019 - None (Khalil Mack Trade)

5.  1982 - Jim McMahon, QB, Brigham Young

4.  1983 - Jim Covert, T, Pittsburgh - Covert was selected in the great QB draft of 1983 (John Elway [1st - Baltimore Colts], Todd Blackledge [7th - Kansas City Chiefs], Jim Kelly [14th - Buffalo Bills], Tony Eason [15th - New England Patriots], Ken O'Brien [24th - New York Jets], and Dan Marino [27th - Miami Dolphins]).  The Bears were not in the QB market having just selected Jim McMahon in the first round the previous year, but, as in all NFL drafts, they had to do their due diligence on all the QBs.  After watching tape of Dan Marino, head coach Mike Ditka noted that between his quick release and great offensive line Dan Marino never got sacked.  Ditka asked his scouts if any of the linemen were available in the draft.  When told that the left tackle was a senior and highly rated, Ditka reportedly said, "Great!  Let's get him!"

3.  1984 - Wilber Marshall, LB, Florida

2.  2021 - Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State - Hopefully he can be great.  Ranked this high on potential, and on the fact that this was the first time since McMahon that the Bears truly addressed their need at QB by trading up to draft Fields.

1.  1975 - Walter Payton, RB - Jackson State - OF COURSE!

Picks of the Week

I am continuing my see-saw journey through this year, as another fantastic week last week followed a sub-par one from two weeks ago.

As  a reminder, each pick is using the spread (straight up is for wussies), and the betting line is from the same website each week as of the time of typing the entry. I keep a running tally of my record, plus my winnings/losses. We will pretend that I bet $100 on each game, with one game each week going for $250. Winnings/Losses will be calculated including a 10% vig, which just makes the math that much simpler. Now, on to the picks.

Cincinnati Bengals -6 v. Cleveland Browns
The Browns have been much better than anyone expected, including yours truly.  They have basically been doing this with smoke-and-mirrors, though.  Cincinnati has played well the last couple of weeks, led by Mohammad Sanu, and Sanu looks to have lots more one-on-one coverage now that A.J. Green is returning.  How's that for burying the lead?

Baltimore Ravens -10 v. Tennessee Titans
Tennessee is a train wreck, and although 10 points seems high - almost tempting me to take Tennessee - I am going to resist the temptation.

Kansas City Chiefs -1 1/2 at Buffalo Bills
Another opportunity to break my rule of betting on road favorites, but in this case the spread is so low I just have to ask myself if I think Kansas City can win - which they can.

Detroit Lions -2 1/2 v. Miami Dolphins
I cannot imagine that the Lions are going to start as slow this week as they did against Atlanta, and even if they do, Miami's offense is not Atlanta's (and fortunately for the Dolphins, neither is their defense!).

Dallas Cowboys -6 1/2 at Jacksonville Jaguars (In London)
The Jaguars are no pushover, and with Tony Romo injured, although likely playing, the 6 1/2 points looks tough to cover - except for the fact that the Jaguars have been turning the ball over way too much.  Because of that, I will take the Cowboys, reluctantly.  That being said, have you seen the official hashtags put out by the teams' respective social media people?  Jacksonville's is #JagsinUK, whereas Dallas's is #CowboysUK - Yes, that's right, the team itself said that #CowboySuk.  Ridiculous.

San Francisco 49ers +5 at New Orleans Saints
Another game in which I really want to pick both teams.  The 49ers have been ridiculously disappointing, and are in serious danger of going from one of the pre-season favorites to win the Super Bowl to out-of-the playoffs.  The same could be said of the Saints, except that New Orleans is playing much better as of late.  I still think New Orleans wins this game, but if San Francisco has any fight in them at all, they keep this one close.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers + 1 1/2 v. Atlanta Falcons
Both teams are BAAAADDDD, so I will take the points, as few as they are.  Tampa's defense may be gelling a little bit, so they actually could keep this game close.

Denver Broncos -11 1/2 at Oakland Raiders
See my Steelers/Jets note.  Oakland is better than some of the teams that actually have wins, but they are not Broncos good, especially since Denver will want to make a statement after being decimated by the Patriots last week.

St. Louis Rams +7 at Arizona Cardinals
I get it Vegas, the Cardinals are good.  They should definitely win this game at home.  I just still do not believe that they are a touchdown better than St. Louis, although the Rams are not nearly as dynamic without Brian Quick.

Seattle Seahawks -9 v. New York Giants
So the Seahawks have been nowhere near as dominating this year as expected, but they can still play at home. The Giants have not really proved that they can play with a team like Seattle.

Green Bay Packers -7 v. Chicago Bears
Aaron Rodgers always torches Chicago, and he is even better in prime time games.  I do not look at the Bears defense as being the type of team that can beat this Packers team ... unless Shea McClellin makes a play!

Philadelphia Eagles -6 v. Carolina Panthers
Listen - nobody knows how the Eagles are going to react with Mark Sanchez at the helm.  Nobody.  But I have seen the Panthers play this year, and I just think the Eagles have too much offensive firepower.


BIG BET OF THE WEEK

Pittsburgh Steelers -5 at New York Jets
So my tendency to not pick road favorites does not count when the home team is the New York Jets.  Pittsburgh's offense has been phenomenal of late, and the Jets' pass defense has been horrible all year long.  Look for Roethlisberger to come close to 350+ yards in this game.  I am so positive this is going to happen, I am making this game my "Big Bet of the Week"


Last Week: 9-3-1
Year-to-Date: 71-61-2
Big Bet Last Week: 0-1
Big Bet Year to Date: 5-4
Winnings (Losses) Last Week: $405
Winnings (Losses) Year to Date: $475