Bears Draft Results: Who needs a QB, anyways?
So the draft was this weekend and the Bears, I must admit, did OK where it matters most: the first three rounds. In general, though, the draft was a bit perplexing to this Bears fan. How can they not take a Quarterback? At all? But lets jump back a moment and talk about the picks that were good.
What I Liked
It's hard to disagree with the pick of Tackle Chris Williams from Vanderbilt in the first round. That's what everybody expected and almost everybody wanted. It's not sexy, but it's a safe pick and I expect him to be a fixture on the left side of the line for the next ten years. The only thing surprising about this pick was that the Bears didn't trade down. Three of the top five tackles were still on the board and you know how Jerry Angelo loves stockpiling picks. Whatever, they decided to take the guy they really wanted and they didn't get stuck with Cade McNown again. (The last time they traded down in the first round when there were five obviously-targeted players available.)
I also like the Matt Forte pick. Initially, I was rooting hard for either Brian Brohm or Ray Rice here. And with both of those guys available, seeing Forte's name was a bit of a disappointment. But I've really come around on this pick, and after further review I see no reason to think that Rice will be better than Forte. This guy was a stud at Tulane. Check him out on youtube. Cedric Benson, watch your back. (Then again, you can take these youtube clips with a grain of salt. See here and here. Just saying.)
There's nothing not to like about WR Earl Bennett, either. There were no sure thing #1 receivers in this draft, and this guy, being the all-time SEC leader, is as good a bet as just about any of the guys taken. Mel Kiper compared him favorably to Hines Ward, and there's nothing not to like about that comparison.
Craig Stelz, a Safety from LSU, fills Jerry's quota for best defensive back he can find from the state of Louisiana. Angelo always drafts a d-back from the Lou. (See Kevin Payne, Chris Harris, Charles Tillman, and Bobby Gray.) The only thing I worry about this guy is they say he doesn't have enough speed to keep up with NFL receivers. I hope "they" are wrong, and the comparison to Doug Plank is more apt.
Tank Redux
The Bears used their second third-round pick on Marcus Harrison, a talented-but-troubled DT from Arkansas. He's already had his three strikes on the legal front, and some injury history to boot. Its really hard not to compare this kid to Tank Johnson. Poor thing didn't know selling weed and ecstasy were illegal. Three times. Hope he's learned his lesson! He's a beast with monster upside, but I can't help but think the Bears probably made a mistake with this pick.
The Perplexing Part
How can they not draft a Quarterback? Do they not need a Quarterback? I'm pretty sure that none of the QBs in the draft, Matt Ryan included, will be better than Grossman or Orton in 2008. However, there were many guys with lots of long-term upside available, and you would think a team with 12 picks could spare one of them on a third string quarterback. The only thing that I can think of is the Ron Turner factor. Another lousy year on offense means he's out of a job, and his West Coast Offense may go the way of the dodo. Don't want to spend money on a guy who might not fit the next system. I'm really reaching here, but that's all I can think of. Well, that and the fact that they might have underestimated how quickly their preferred QB would get drafted and screwed themselves by passing on him. That's probably more likely.
Also curious, the picks at "non need" positions. Do the Bears need a Corner or a Tight End? No and no. Yet they used a pair of 5th rounders on these positions (Zack Bowman and Kellen Davis). They "need" a Guard, and there were plenty of good ones available. These are intriguing prospects, though, so these picks are semi defensible when you're in "draft the best player available" mode. Bowman was previously regarded as a first round talent before he blew out both of his knees. (Its a good thing corners don't need good knees!)
As for the last five picks, all in the seventh round, you can sum them up best by saying "throw a bunch of crap up against the wall and see what sticks." One or two of these guys might pan out, but probably on Special Teams at most and there's no real harm having a few more bodies in camp. Of the quintet, Adams, Barton, and Monk are the most intriguing.
And that's about it. All in all, it was a productive draft albeit a draft with one gaping hole. I just can't get past the fact that they didn't draft a QB. Oh well, there's always next year, and I bet we'll be picking high.
Bear down.