Chicago Bears - NFC North

Chicago Bears - NFC North, 2008 Draft Selections & Prospects

Chicago Bears

The Draft Was ... Potentially awful. Did the Bears try to set a record on the number of projects they could take on? Chris Williams was a need pick in the first round, and then everything fell apart. There were plenty of good running backs on the board, and instead of taking Chad Henne or Brian Brohm they took Matt Forte. While the fifth round pick of Kellen Davis was nice, there's a lot of coaching to be done.
Best Value Pick: Kellen Davis, TE Michigan State. 5th round. While not a need pick in any way, Davis has first round skills and a seventh round head. If he can put it all together, he'll be a dangerous weapon in two tight end sets.
Biggest Reach: Zach Bowman, CB Nebraska. 5th round. An average player even when he was healthy, he's a measurables guy coming off knee and hamstring problems.
They Should've ... Taken Chad Henne or Brian Brohm in the second around and taken RB Tashard Choice, who fits what the Bear offense wants to do, in the third.

#	Pick
14	14	1st Round   Chris Williams, OT Vanderbilt The range of opinion on what Williams is, and what he could become, runs the gamut. One of the most athletic linemen in the draft in a 6-6, 315-pound body, he looks the part and should grow into an elite pass blocker. He can eventually be plugged in on the left side and let roll for a decade. However, he had a mediocre workout on his pro day and he's not necessarily a killer. If he can grow into more of a powerful run blocker, he should be terrific. CFN Projection: Late First Round    CFN Position Rank: 3

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2nd Round    Matt Forte, RB Tulane Forte is the back for those who believe breakaway speed is overrated. After all, how many backs tear off 40-yard runs? Forte doesn't have great straight-line speed, but he's a strong inside runner who was extremely dependable last season rushing for 2,127 yards and 23 touchdowns for the Green Wave. A big runner who pounds away, he's a positive carry every time he touches the ball. If you're looking for a thrilling back who'll make the highlight reel, that's not Forte. If you're looking for a steady, dependable all-around back who can catch, pound, and work his tail off, that's Forte. CFN Projection: Third Round    CFN Position Rank: 9

7

70

3rd Round    Earl Bennett, WR Vanderbilt Bennett faced the best of the best defensive backs in the SEC and still produced becoming the league's all-time leading receiver in fewer than three years. While he was great with Jay Cutler throwing to him, he put up even better numbers working with far less talented passers. Not a blazer, he's more quick than fast with great hands that snags everything that comes his way; he made his Vanderbilt quarterbacks better, including Cutler. He'll be erased at times by the speedier NFL corners, but he'll flourish as a complementary target. CFN Projection: Mid-Second to Third Round    CFN Position Rank: 9

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90

3rd Round   Marcus Harrison, DT Arkansas Character and durability are going to be the main concerns, and he'll never get to the quarterback, but at 6-2 and 317 pounds with shocking athleticism and the strength to handle two blockers without a problem, he's a major prospect. The key is his health. As his knee gets better and better, so should his production. On skills he's a first rounder, but on intangibles he's a question mark. CFN Projection: Late Second Round to Early Third Round  CFN Position Rank: 9

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120

4th Round (from trade)  Craig Steltz, SS LSU After a few nice years as a tough backup, Steltz was the best defensive back in college football in 2007 making 101 tackles, six interceptions, and seemingly coming up with every big play needed. He's not all that fast and he's not huge, but he has a great motor, never dogs it, and can be used early on in nickel situations if he can't get a starting gig. He's still improving; he could be a far better pro than a collegian. CFN Projection: Fourth Round to Fifth  CFN Position Rank: 7

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142

5th Round   Zach Bowman, CB Nebraska Speed, speed, speed. A 4.4 defender with decent size, he has good measurables and has the all-around athleticism to stay with just about anyone. However, he's not a very good football player. Out all of 2006 knee injury and after struggling last year. partially because he started out with a hamstring problem, he's not going to stay healthy. CFN Projection: Free Agent       CFN Position Rank: NR

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158

5th Round (from trade)  Kellen Davis, TE Michigan State The prototype. At 6-6 and 262 pounds with 4.6 speed, he has the size/speed/athletic ratio that screams Pro Bowl tight end. The problem is his blocking; he doesn't do it. While he had a nice senior season, he was a stunning disappointment for the first three years of his Spartan career and didn't blow up like he should have. If the proper fire is lit, he could be the best tight end in the draft. That's a huge if. CFN Projection: Late Third Round to Early Fourth      CFN Position Rank: 8

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7th Round (from trade)  Ervin Baldwin, DE Michigan State A nice player, but nothing special, Baldwin got on the map with a big pro day running a 4.62. While he doesn't have the ideal size, he's an interesting pass rushing prospect who needs to develop into a more complete player. Worth a flier, he'll have to show right away in camp that he can get into the backfield.  CFN Projection: Free Agent   CFN Position Rank: NR

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7th Round  Chester Adams, OG/OT Georgia He's versatile enough to play either tackle or guard, but he's not good enough to be a regular at either spot. He has the size, he has the strength, and he has the athleticism, but he doesn't always play up to his measurables. He was a good college player who earned enough respect to be a captain, but he didn't dominate like he should've. CFN Projection: Fifth Round  CFN Position Rank: 13

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7th Round  Joey LaRocque, LB Oregon State A good, productive college player who made plenty of tackles, he's a football player. At only 226 pounds and without much in the way of speed, he doesn't have much upside and will have to be a major factor on special teams to stick. CFN Projection: Free Agent   CFN Position Rank: NR

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247

7th Round  Kirk Barton, OT Ohio State A weight-room warrior who's a cut 6-4 and 300 pounds, he was a four-year starter for the Buckeyes and got a lot of attention and plenty of all-star honors. While he was a key cog in the OSU offense for his entire career, and the line was his for his final two years, he didn't improve by leaps and bounds over the course of his career. He's not smooth enough to handle an average NFL end. He'll get by for a while in camp on reputation. CFN Projection: Sixth Round   CFN Position Rank: 18

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7th Round  Marcus Monk, WR Arkansas Monk was on the verge of being one of the SEC's most dangerous receivers and a big-time weapon with everyone paying attention to the running game, and then he got hurt and never got healthy. After several surgeries, he finally got his leg healthy enough to get on the field, but he wasn't the same player he was in 2006. However, at 6-4 and 222 pounds with good red-zone ability, he's an interesting flier to take. If given another year to heal and get back into his old physical form, he could be a major steal. CFN Projection: Free Agent   CFN Position Rank: 41