Les Grossman
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- Joined:
- Jun 22, 2011
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RANK
A-
CHICAGO BEARS
Round 1: (8) Roquan Smith, LB, 16 games/14 starts.
Round 2: (39) James Daniels, OG/C, 16 games/10 starts; (51) Anthony Miller, WR, 15 games/4 starts.
Round 4: (115) Joel Iyiegbuniwe, LB, 16 games/0 starts.
Round 5: (145) Bilal Nichols, DT, 14 games/6 starts.
Round 6: (181) Kylie Fitts, DE, 6 games/0 starts.
Round 7: (224) Javon Wims, WR, 4 games/0 starts.
Notable rookie FA signings: Kevin Toliver, DB, 15 games/1 start.
Few clubs reaped a better haul from the first two rounds of the 2018 draft than Chicago. After sweating out a testy and lengthy holdout with Smith over some restrictive contract language, the two sides made up and wreaked havoc on the NFC. Smith completed a nasty linebacking corps featuring Danny Trevathan and edge rushers Khalil Mack and Leonard Floyd, leading the team in tackles (121) and making himself an obvious PFWA All-Rookie honoree. Drafted as a center, Daniels filled in at guard for Eric Kush and started from Week 8 on, holding his own against the likes of Sheldon Richardson and Aaron Donald down the stretch. Miller proved a key part of Chicago's revamped receiving corps, leading the team in touchdown receptions (seven) and TD percentage (21.2). A favorite of Mitchell Trubisky's, Miller should be a starter alongside Allen Robinson in 2019. That trio alone makes this class one of the year's best, regardless of the additions that came afterward. Nichols was the only rookie from the last five rounds to stand out in his first season, racking up as many sacks (three) as interior linemates Roy Robertson-Harris and Eddie Goldman, despite playing fewer defensive snaps than either player.
Combine/free agency focus: Chicago holds just five draft picks at the moment, and only one in the first two days (a late third-rounder). That's what general manager Ryan Pace gets for trading for Mack and trading up for Miller. We'd say it was worth it. The Bears don't boast a lot of cap space, but they don't have much to tinker with, either. Their most important impending free agents are probably cornerback Bryce Callahan and safety Adrian Amos, whose rookie deal is up but who is entering a safety-rich market that, last offseason, led some to sign for less than expected. If the Bears want to open up space for both to stay, they could add $6 million in cap room by parting with Dion Sims. Other than the secondary, the only position left to fill is kicker. Cody Parkey probably ain't comin' back, not after he sat down with Savannah and Hoda. Chicago already signed a potential replacement in Redford Jones, but that position battle will be the most closely watched one by Bears fans and Goose Island imbibers all offseason.
RANK
B
DETROIT LIONS
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RANK
B
GREEN BAY PACKERS
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RANK
B-
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...kie-grades-bears-bag-trio-of-earlyround-studs
A-
CHICAGO BEARS
Round 1: (8) Roquan Smith, LB, 16 games/14 starts.
Round 2: (39) James Daniels, OG/C, 16 games/10 starts; (51) Anthony Miller, WR, 15 games/4 starts.
Round 4: (115) Joel Iyiegbuniwe, LB, 16 games/0 starts.
Round 5: (145) Bilal Nichols, DT, 14 games/6 starts.
Round 6: (181) Kylie Fitts, DE, 6 games/0 starts.
Round 7: (224) Javon Wims, WR, 4 games/0 starts.
Notable rookie FA signings: Kevin Toliver, DB, 15 games/1 start.
Few clubs reaped a better haul from the first two rounds of the 2018 draft than Chicago. After sweating out a testy and lengthy holdout with Smith over some restrictive contract language, the two sides made up and wreaked havoc on the NFC. Smith completed a nasty linebacking corps featuring Danny Trevathan and edge rushers Khalil Mack and Leonard Floyd, leading the team in tackles (121) and making himself an obvious PFWA All-Rookie honoree. Drafted as a center, Daniels filled in at guard for Eric Kush and started from Week 8 on, holding his own against the likes of Sheldon Richardson and Aaron Donald down the stretch. Miller proved a key part of Chicago's revamped receiving corps, leading the team in touchdown receptions (seven) and TD percentage (21.2). A favorite of Mitchell Trubisky's, Miller should be a starter alongside Allen Robinson in 2019. That trio alone makes this class one of the year's best, regardless of the additions that came afterward. Nichols was the only rookie from the last five rounds to stand out in his first season, racking up as many sacks (three) as interior linemates Roy Robertson-Harris and Eddie Goldman, despite playing fewer defensive snaps than either player.
Combine/free agency focus: Chicago holds just five draft picks at the moment, and only one in the first two days (a late third-rounder). That's what general manager Ryan Pace gets for trading for Mack and trading up for Miller. We'd say it was worth it. The Bears don't boast a lot of cap space, but they don't have much to tinker with, either. Their most important impending free agents are probably cornerback Bryce Callahan and safety Adrian Amos, whose rookie deal is up but who is entering a safety-rich market that, last offseason, led some to sign for less than expected. If the Bears want to open up space for both to stay, they could add $6 million in cap room by parting with Dion Sims. Other than the secondary, the only position left to fill is kicker. Cody Parkey probably ain't comin' back, not after he sat down with Savannah and Hoda. Chicago already signed a potential replacement in Redford Jones, but that position battle will be the most closely watched one by Bears fans and Goose Island imbibers all offseason.
RANK
B
DETROIT LIONS
----------------------------------
RANK
B
GREEN BAY PACKERS
----------------------------------
RANK
B-
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...kie-grades-bears-bag-trio-of-earlyround-studs
