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!
