Sometimes the NFL draft isn’t going to cooperate no matter what you do. Players you want end up going before your team has a chance to get them and even your backup options disappear too. That leaves a GM with a difficult decision. Do they cut their losses and move back or do they take a gamble on a player they’re uncertain about. The common reference to these types of picks is a “reach.” The Chicago Bears certainly aren’t a stranger to this reality.
There are plenty of examples in their recent history. Phil Emery reached on Shea McClellin in 2012 when the guy he wanted, Ryan Kerrigan, was long gone. Even Ryan Pace isn’t immune to such moves. Was Mitch Trubisky a reach? That can be debated. However, Adam Shaheen in the 2nd round that same year most definitely was. An inexperienced tight end out of Ashland? The red flags were glaring.
Now sitting with the 20th pick n the 1st round, Pace is prime reach territory. An area of the draft where most of the safe prospects are gone and teams have to start taking bigger risks. So who are some names that fit that category for the Bears?
The Chicago Bears are not immune to reaching on guys
QB: Davis Mills (Stanford)
Why he could go that high – A five-star recruit out of high school, the one thing Mills isn’t short on is talent. He’s 6’4 with a big body and an arm capable of making any throw in the playbook. Not only does he have velocity but also accuracy. He has delivered some absolute strikes and seems to play his best under pressure. The talent is 1st round-caliber.
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Why he’s a reach – Mills comes with some serious red flags. Though well-coached at Stanford, he has a history of knee injuries dating back to the end of high school. Those setbacks along with the pandemic led to him starting just 11 games in college. So not only a health hazard but inexperienced too. That is dangerous living for any team in the 1st round.
WR: Rondale Moore (Purdue)
Why he could go that high – The NFL game is about speed and big plays like never before. Guys who can break the game open every time they touch the ball. Everybody wants the next Tyreek Hill. Moore is that type of player. Undersized but ridiculously fast and dangerous with the ball in his hands. Somebody who can line up anywhere and get open.
Why he’s a reach – Hill being 5’10 is short. Moore is 5’7. That is exceedingly short. Guys his size never goes in the 1st round. This doesn’t even factor in his health history. The wide receiver suffered from a number of injuries in college including persistent hamstring issues. Anybody with an understanding of this game knows those tend to be a chronic issue.
OT: Stone Forsythe (Florida)
Why he could go that high – Forsythe is a mastodon. Just a giant of a human being at 6’8 with 34-inch arms. Chicago Bears offensive line coach Juan Castillo has a history of coveting bigger tackles like that. Forsythe was a quality pass protector at Florida, helping Kyle Trask throw 43 TDs last year. He has the look of a future left tackle in the NFL. One who could dominate.
Why he’s a reach – Forsythe has struggled against speed a number of times, showing average foot quickness in his pass sets. He’s also surprisingly ineffective as a run blocker despite his size and good strength. His tendencies to lurch and lose his balance don’t help. He may turn out good but the guy has a lot he still has to work on.
CB: Eric Stokes (Georgia)
Why he could go that high – Two things are always true about Pace. He loves prospects with high-end athletic traits and he loves players from Georgia. Stokes checks both boxes. The young cornerback is an exciting athlete with 6’1 size and sub-4.3 speed. Such qualities could make him a classic press corner in the NFL who can follow a top receiver anywhere.
Why he’s a reach – His athleticism helped him stand out in college because his actual game wasn’t all that great. His instincts in coverage appear average. The same goes for his ball skills. If that weren’t enough, he’s a liability against the run. Ball carriers routinely ran through his tackle attempts. He feels like a CB3 inside a CB1 body.
EDGE: Greg Rousseau (Miami)
Why he could go that high – Rousseau certainly has the look of a physical specimen at 6’7 with 34-inch arms. Not enough? The last glimpse teams had of him, he was racking up 15.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for a loss in 2019. He chose to opt out in 2020. One should think he is going to be a monster in the NFL given his dimensions and most recent stats.
Why he’s a reach – Numbers can be deceiving. Rousseau actually got a lot of his production when he wasn’t rushing off the edge but from the interior. Something that isn’t likely to happen much in the pros. His burst isn’t all that impressive and he also seems to lack power for somebody his size. The guy feels like a project who shouldn’t go that early.
