Chicago Bears: One position has dominated bottom of 3rd round
By Erik Lambert
The Chicago Bears know they have to find a way to make sure their first pick in the 2019 NFL draft is a good one. How can they do this?
Simply scouting players correctly and finding the right talent is the simple way to explain it. Nothing is simple with the draft though. Instead there may be a more interesting way to see this. The Bears hold the 87th overall pick in the 3rd round. Barring an unexpected trade, that will be the first pick they use this year. So rather than scouring the entire landscape as a whole, here’s a better question to ask.
Are there certain position groups that tend to yield good results around that area of the draft? The answer is yes, and a surprisingly overwhelming one at that. Since 2000, no position has produced more quality talent in the NFL between the 85th pick and the end of the 3rd round more than running back. This is thanks in large part to a surprising boon of backs in recent years coming from that section.
Among them include four Pro Bowlers in Brian Westbrook, Kareem Hunt, David Johnson, and James Conner. That doesn’t include other known contributors like Jerick McKinnon, Steve Slaton, and Chris Brown. Not enough? Then there’s Ahman Green, Mark Van Eeghan, Wendell Tyler, and William Andrew. It’s been remarkably consistent over the course of decades.
Chicago Bears could be in a position to further this trend
Based on reports regarding the 2019 draft class, it’s one that is considered fairly deep at the running back position. Expectations are that as many as 15-16 are talented enough to go within the first three rounds. With likely one or two at most going in the 1st round, it could mean that there will be a host of quality names available for the Bears at the 87th pick. Especially with so many other teams apparently set at the position.
Add to this fact that Pace has already proven he has an eye for the position with Jeremy Langford, Tarik Cohen, and Jordan Howard all taken AFTER the 3rd round. It gives one the confidence that this team is perfectly situated to take advantage of the situation should they indeed go after a running back. It all comes back to whether or not they are truly intent on moving on from Howard or not. People won’t know for sure until they make a move to confirm.