Draft Grade: Chicago Bears
Notable Picks
14th Overall: CB Kyle Fuller (Virginia Tech)
This was a necessary pick. The Chicago defense has fallen from its status as one of the best in the league to one of the worst. Fuller plays a complete game, with the speed and awareness to shadow receivers down the field and the toughness and tackling ability to be a factor in run support.
Adding Fuller to a cornerback corps featuring serviceable veterans in Tim Jennings and Peanut Tillman will help the Chicago D, but the secondary is still in desperate need of quality safeties.
51st Overall: DT Ego Ferguson (LSU)
The defensive problems in Chicago are not confined to the secondary: they ranked dead last against the run in 2013. The interior d-line needs a major overhaul, and that starts here with Ferguson. “Let go of my Ego” Ferguson has the perfect build at 6’ 3” and 320 lbs. to plug up the middle and force runs to the outside.
83rd Overall: DT Will Sutton (Arizona State)
Given how bad Chicago fared against the run last year, it should come as no surprise they doubled down on DTs on the second day of this year’s draft. Sutton is more of a 3-tech player with Ferguson more a 1-tech, so his role will be pressuring the QB from the inside instead of stopping the run. But if he can consistently generate push up the middle, Sutton can help the Bears in defending both the pass and the rush.
183rd Overall: QB David Fales (San Jose State)
Of all the quarterbacks picked on Day 3, Fales has the best chance of being a starter down the road in the NFL. Fales has only average arm strength, but he is very accurate and understands how to adjust plays pre-snap to take advantage of what the defense gives him.
The Bears already have a starting quarterback established in Jay Cutler, so, barring injury, there will be no pressure on Fales for the next couple years while he continues to increase his arm strength and develop his technique.
Final Grade: C
A “C” grade may seem unfair to some. Fuller, Ferguson, and Sutton are all talented players at positions of great need. Fales should be a serviceable backup and may eventually take the reins from Cutler.
Chicago did make a lot of moves in the free agency as well to try and reestablish themselves as a defensive power, adding young, proven pass rushers in LaMarr Houston and Willie Young. But the Bears failed to adequately address the safety position, so they don’t deserve anything more than a grade of average. Expect Chicago to beat with long passing plays many times in 2014.
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