Chicago Bears: 3rd round picks changed the franchise before

It’s going to be difficult to sell Chicago Bears fans on having any rooting interest in the 2019 draft next April. Such is how things can go with big trades.

Not that people are complaining. Their 1st round pick next year was expended to secure Khalil Mack who has instantly become the best defensive player the team has had in almost a decade. He looks to be an All-Pro fixture for them for at least the next five years. That would make the expenditure of what would now be a pick in the 20s range (at least) well worth it.

The 2nd round pick is gone as well, given to the New England Patriots in order to move up and grab wide receiver Anthony Miller. He leads the team with seven touchdown catches and figures to be a big part of the offense moving forward. Would people agree that getting those two players was worth making the start of the 2019 draft rather uneventful for Chicago? Probably.

However, that doesn’t mean the draft itself can be called a throwaway. Each one has considerable importance to the team, even if they don’t have a lot of picks. Ryan Pace proved that when he secured two Pro Bowlers and an alternate in 2017 with only five selections. He’ll still have a reasonably high pick at his disposal in the 3rd round. Believe it or not, that level of selection has turned the teams’ fortunes in the past.

The 3rd round fueled the Chicago Bears 2006 Super Bowl run

More from NFL Mocks

Most people credit prior Bears success to the top rounds, and with good reason. The 1st and 2nd rounds were the catalyst to their championship in 1985. Brian Urlacher was the main cog in their success during the 2000s. He didn’t do it alone though. He had a lot of help, and two of the key pieces that made it possible were both 3rd round picks: center Olin Kreutz and linebacker Lance Briggs.

Kreutz became the heart and soul of the Bears offensive line for over a decade, reaching six Pro Bowls and paving the way for multiple 1,000-yard rushers including Anthony Thomas, Thomas Jones, and Matt Forte. Briggs was the wingman to Urlacher on those great defenses of the Lovie Smith era. He went to seven Pro Bowls of his own and was often the guy making the big plays in the big moments.

It’s interesting that the Bears haven’t made a meaningful 3rd round pick since he arrived in 2003. One would say that they’re long overdue to change that. Pace is a guy who can pull it off. After all, he saw his former team do it several times in New Orleans with guys like Jimmy Graham, Terron Armstead, and Akiem Hicks. This won’t be a time to rest on laurels.

Home/NFL Draft