The Chicago Bears 2018 draft will hinge on what they do in the first round. This is nothing new. The first round often dictates whether a draft will be successful for a team. Sure there are exceptions. Just look at what the Bears did in 2003 for an idea. Regardless, there is no getting around it. GM Ryan Pace absolutely can’t afford to flub this first pick in April.
Therein lay the problem. It’s the 8th overall pick. Most fans may not know this but that selection has a rather dubious reputation in Chicago lore. Since the draft was first established way back in 1936, the Bears have held and used the 8th pick a total of five times. The total return on those five picks? Not very good at all.
Two of them were downright busts. Les McDonald was a forgettable reserve back in the ’30s while David Terrell became another in a long string of wide receiver whiffs for the franchise in 2001. There was also Jim Dooley who survived most of the ’50s on the roster as a decent pass catcher. Lastly was tackle Dennis Lick who blocked for Walter Payton in the 1970s. All told those men started 13 seasons in Chicago without a single Pro Bowl or championship to their names.
Chicago Bears 2018 draft centers on which side 8th pick goes to
It’s not all bad though. The Bears actually have made a good pick at #8. That came in 1974 when they scooped defensive lineman Wally Chambers. He became a three-time Pro Bowler for them and facilitated the eventual trade that landed them Dan Hampton. Interestingly enough he is by far the most successful of the five picks, and he’s also the only one who played primarily on defense.
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This is actually somewhat baffling. In the Super Bowl era, the 8th pick has produced 35 Pro Bowlers, 17 on defense and 18 on offense. The true discrepancy is in Canton with six of the offensive guys reaching the Hall of Fame and only one defender. So by rights, the Bears should’ve had more success drafting offense. Yet that’s not the case.
It shouldn’t be a surprise though. The Bears have made a total of 11 picks in the bottom half of the top 10 since 1966. Only one offensive player, Jimbo Covert, made the Pro Bowl. Conversely, three defenders including Chambers, Mark Carrier, and Brian Urlacher made it on defense. That could include Leonard Floyd if his upward trajectory continues.
The evidence is clear. Based on the Bears’ current draft position they might be better off avoiding the offensive side of the ball when they go on the clock in April. It hasn’t done them any favors to this point. It’s possible that might change. Then again at some point, one has to embrace the trend and go with the flow.
