Chicago Bears: History of the 14th NFL Draft Pick
By Erik Lambert
Feb 2, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Seattle Seahawks safety Earl Thomas (29) during Super Bowl XLVIII against the Denver Broncos at MetLife Stadium. The Seahawks defeated the Broncos 43-8. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
With the NFL draft imminent, the Chicago Bears are finalizing their plans for the 14th overall pick. Based on history, what are their chances of landing a difference-maker?
14th Overall Picks Since 1980
2013 – Star Lotulelei – DT – Utah
Helped the Carolina Panthers go from 14th to 2nd in run defense his rookie season and posted three sacks.
2012 – Michael Brockers – DT – LSU
Aside from one or two flashes every few weeks he hasn’t really been consistent for the St. Louis Rams despite frequent one-on-one chances.
2011 – Robert Quinn – DE – North Carolina
Reached his first Pro Bowl in 2013 while leading the league in sacks. Has 34.5 sacks and eight forced fumbles in three seasons.
2010 – Earl Thomas – S – Texas
A three-time All-Pro safety who commanded the suffocating Seattle Seahawks defense en route to a Super Bowl title last season.
2009 – Malcolm Jenkins – CB – Ohio State
Helped the New Orleans Saints win the Super Bowl as a rookie but continues to suffer from bouts of inconsistency, resulting in his departure from the team.
2008 – Chris Williams – OT – Vanderbilt
Early injury problems dogged his stay in Chicago. He later made a serviceable living as a guard but is now with his third team in Buffalo
2007 – Darrelle Revis – CB – Pittsburgh
In reaching five Pro Bowls, Darrelle Revis was the best corner in the league for a long stretch. Many think he still is but a knee injury has landed him in foggy territory.
2006 – Brodrick Bunkley – DT – Florida State
He never became a breakout starter for the Philadelphia Eagles and has since become a journey backup now on his third team.
2005 – Thomas Davis – FS – Georgia
A safety in college, he converted to linebacker in Carolina and was plagued by three ACL tears. Hasn’t played a full season since 2008.
2004 – Tommie Harris – DT – Oklahoma
Chicago Bears fans fondly remember Tommie Harris as a dominant interior pass rusher who reached three Pro Bowls before a knee injury largely robbed him of a longer career.
2003 – Michael Haynes – DE – Penn State
A notorious NFL draft whiff by the Bears who spent just four seasons as a pro and had just 5.5 sacks in that time span.
2002 – Jeremy Shockey – TE – Miami
A wicked talented pass catcher early in his career, Jeremy Shockey went to four Pro Bowls and helped the Giants and Saints win championships.
2001 – Kenyatta Walker – OT – Florida
TampaBay hoped he could play left tackle but ended up on the right side. He started 73 games for them and was a part of their Super Bowl run in 2002.
2000 – Bubba Franks – TE – Miami
After a tough rookie year Bubba Franks broke out to reach three Pro Bowls for the Packers before injuries did their damage.
1999 – John Tait – OT – BYU
Though he never reached Pro Bowl status, John Tait was a reliable tackle who played on the left and right sides for nine season, including five with the Chicago Bears.
1998 – Jason Peter – DE – Nebraska
Nobody ever got to see what Jason Peter could really become. Chronic neck problems forced him to retire after just four seasons.
1997 – Reinard Wilson – DE – Florida State
Another in a serious of NFL draft blunders by the Bengals in the 1990s. Wilson started just 23 games in six seasons and had 24 sacks.
1996 – Eddie George – RB – Ohio State
A Rookie of the Year and four-time Pro Bowler, he helped the Titans to the Super Bowl in 1999, ran for over 10,000 yards and scored 78 touchdowns.
1995 – Ruben Brown – OG – Pittsburgh
One of the best guards for a decade in pro football. Ruben Brown reached nine Pro Bowls with Buffalo and Chicago.
1994 – Bernard Williams – OT – Georgia
Was banned from the NFL after just two seasons due to repeated failed drug tests. Spent the remainder of his career bouncing around the CFL.
1993 – Steve Everitt – C – Michigan
A reliable starter in Cleveland before the team moved to Baltimore. Ended a nondescript career in Philadelphia after six years.
1992 – Derek Brown – TE – Notre Dame
A journeyman who played on four different teams in seven years and is best remembered for taking a brutal hit that collapsed his lung and put him in a wheelchair for weeks.
1991 – Leonard Russell – RB – Arizona State
Winning Rookie of the Year was the best Russell could muster in the pros. He managed a single 1,000-yard season and never averaged over four yards per carry.
1990 – Renaldo Turnbull – OLB – West Virginia
He wasn’t a superstar but Turnbull was a steady pass rusher for New Orleans and went to a Pro Bowl in 1993.
1989 – Jeff Lageman – DE – Virginia
Another pick that was booed undeservingly by Jets fans. Jeff Lageman was an All-Pro in 1991 for New York and also helped Jacksonville to two AFC championship games.
1988 – Gaston Green – RB – UCLA
The start of his career was a disaster for the L.A. Rams but he rebounded to become an All-Pro for Denver in 1991.
1987 – D.J. Dozier – RB – Penn State
Despite averaging 4.0 yards per carry for his career, Dozier was seldom used for five years in Minnesota or Detroit.
1986 – Gerald Robinson – DE – Auburn
Minnesota took him in the first round but he never posted more than five sacks in a season and retired with his third team at the age of 31.
1985 – Derrick Burroughs – CB – Memphis
He never started a game for the Buffalo Bills in five seasons and finished his career as a player with a mere six interceptions.
1984 – Jackie Shipp – ILB – Oklahoma
Spent six unremarkable seasons in Miami and Los Angeles, never living up to his awesome production at OU.
1983 – Jim Kelly – QB – Miami
A USFL MVP and Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback who led the Buffalo Bills to four-straight Super Bowl appearances.
1982 – Barry Redden – RB – Richmond
Never topped the 500 yard mark and became largely a reserve, change-of-pace back who was best known as the guy Eric Dickerson replaced.
1981 – Willie Scott – TE – South Carolina
Played on bad Kansas City teams for years and never really had a fluid quarterback situation to help him flourish. Topped 250 yards once.
1980 – Roland James – DB – Tennessee
A durable and dependable defensive back for the New England Patriots for ten years. Finished his career with 29 interceptions.
CONCLUSION:
If Chicago Bears fans were to look at that list they would see 12 players who reached the Pro Bowl at least once out of 34 names total. That is a success rate of just over 35%. Obviously injuries played a key part with several of those players so it ultimately comes down to choosing a good talent and then trusting in a little bit of luck. The favorable news is that the bulk of the successes have come within the past decade.