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.Β Based on history, what are their chances of landing a difference-maker?
14th Overall Picks Since 1980
2013 β Star Lotulelei β DT β Utah
Helped the Carolina Panthers go from 14th to 2nd in run defense his rookie season and posted three sacks.
2012 β Michael Brockers β DT β LSU
Aside from one or two flashes every few weeks he hasnβt really been consistent for the St. Louis Rams despite frequent one-on-one chances.
2011 β Robert Quinn β DE β North Carolina
Reached his first Pro Bowl in 2013 while leading the league in sacks.Β Has 34.5 sacks and eight forced fumbles in three seasons.
2010 β Earl Thomas β S β Texas
A three-time All-Pro safety who commanded the suffocating Seattle Seahawks defense en route to a Super Bowl title last season.
2009 β Malcolm Jenkins β CB β 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 β Chris Williams β OT β Vanderbilt
Early injury problems dogged his stay in Chicago.Β He later made a serviceable living as a guard but is now with his third team in Buffalo
2007 β Darrelle Revis β CB β Pittsburgh
In reaching five Pro Bowls, Darrelle Revis was the best corner in the league for a long stretch.Β Many think he still is but a knee injury has landed him in foggy territory.
2006 β Brodrick Bunkley β DT β 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 β Thomas Davis β FS β Georgia
A safety in college, he converted to linebacker in Carolina and was plagued by three ACL tears.Β Hasnβt played a full season since 2008.
2004 β Tommie Harris β DT β 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 β Michael Haynes β DE β 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 β Jeremy Shockey β TE β 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 β Kenyatta Walker β OT β Florida
TampaBay hoped he could play left tackle but ended up on the right side.Β He started 73 games for them and was a part of their Super Bowl run in 2002.
2000 β Bubba Franks β TE β Miami
After a tough rookie year Bubba Franks broke out to reach three Pro Bowls for the Packers before injuries did their damage.
1999 β John Tait β OT β 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 β Jason Peter β DE β Nebraska
Nobody ever got to see what Jason Peter could really become.Β Chronic neck problems forced him to retire after just four seasons.
1997 β Reinard Wilson β DE β Florida State
Another in a serious of NFL draft blunders by the Bengals in the 1990s.Β Wilson started just 23 games in six seasons and had 24 sacks.
1996 β Eddie George β RB β 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 β Ruben Brown β OG β Pittsburgh
One of the best guards for a decade in pro football.Β Ruben Brown reached nine Pro Bowls with Buffalo and Chicago.
1994 β Bernard Williams β OT β Georgia
Was banned from the NFL after just two seasons due to repeated failed drug tests.Β Spent the remainder of his career bouncing around the CFL.
1993 β Steve Everitt β C β Michigan
A reliable starter in Cleveland before the team moved to Baltimore.Β Ended a nondescript career in Philadelphia after six years.
1992 β Derek Brown β TE β 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 β Leonard Russell β RB β Arizona State
Winning Rookie of the Year was the best Russell could muster in the pros.Β He managed a single 1,000-yard season and never averaged over four yards per carry.
1990 β Renaldo Turnbull β OLB β West Virginia
He wasnβt a superstar but Turnbull was a steady pass rusher for New Orleans and went to a Pro Bowl in 1993.
1989 β Jeff Lageman β DE β Virginia
Another pick that was booed undeservingly by Jets fans.Β Jeff Lageman was an All-Pro in 1991 for New York and also helped Jacksonville to two AFC championship games.
1988 β Gaston Green β RB β 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 β D.J. Dozier β RB β Penn State
Despite averaging 4.0 yards per carry for his career, Dozier was seldom used for five years in Minnesota or Detroit.
1986 β Gerald Robinson β DE β 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 β Derrick Burroughs β CB β 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 β Jackie Shipp β ILB β Oklahoma
Spent six unremarkable seasons in Miami and Los Angeles, never living up to his awesome production at OU.
1983 β Jim Kelly β QB β Miami
A USFL MVP and Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback who led the Buffalo Bills to four-straight Super Bowl appearances.
1982 β Barry Redden β RB β 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 β Willie Scott β TE β South Carolina
Played on bad Kansas City teams for years and never really had a fluid quarterback situation to help him flourish.Β Topped 250 yards once.
1980 β Roland James β DB β Tennessee
A durable and dependable defensive back for the New England Patriots for ten years.Β 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.Β That is a success rate of just over 35%.Β 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.Β The favorable news is that the bulk of the successes have come within the past decade.