It is one thing to hear opinions and projections from draft experts in the media. That isn’t to say guys haven’t put in work. Yet they just don’t have any experience working inside the league or access to its resources. It is entirely another when you see how a former general manager would do it. That is what Ran Carthon did for the Chicago Bears on CBS Sports. A former NFL safety, he entered the scouting ranks in 2008 with Atlanta and climbed his way up the ranks from there. Carthon enjoyed significant success with the San Francisco 49ers under John Lynch as a personnel director, earning him the general manager position in Tennessee.
Sadly, his tenure lasted only two years, as it was beset by controversies and many losses. Even so, his brief time there saw him make some solid additions to the roster, headlined by left tackle JC Latham and quarterback Cam Ward. He also found three intriguing pass catchers in Gunnar Helm, Elic Ayomanor, and Chimere Dike. While his time in Tennessee was a major disappointment, it wasn’t due to a poor eye for talent. That is what makes his draft projection for the Bears so interesting. Here is how he sees it playing out.
- 1st Round – T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson
- 2nd Round – Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama
- 2nd Round (via BUF) – Jake Golday, LB, Texas Tech
- 3rd Round – Logan Jones, C, Iowa
- 4th Round – Justin Joly, TE, North Carolina State
- 7th Round – Jalen Huskey, S, Maryland
- 7th Round (via CLE) – Vincent Anthony Jr., EDGE, Duke
Ran Carthon actually did pretty well for the Bears.
He starts out with that much-needed edge rusher. Parker is a well-rounded defensive end with size, power, and a violent temperament. His skill as a run defender would appeal to Dennis Allen immediately, and he’s shown flashes of quality as a pass rusher. Then you have Bernard. While he isn’t the most explosive receiver in this class, he is one of the most polished. His combo of precise route-running and strong hands makes him a huge safety blanket on 3rd down. Jake Golday? While Jacob Rodriguez gets all the headlines among the Texas Tech linebackers, Golday is actually more talented. He’s 6’4″, 240 lbs with 4.6 speed, who explodes to the football.
Perhaps the best value pick is Jones in the 3rd round. While not special in any physical way, he’s athletic, smart, and utterly single-minded in his efforts to block guys. Every snap is like the last stand at the Alamo with him. Joly is an undersized but athletic tight end with good hands. His route-running needs improvement, but he could become a dangerous utility weapon if that happens. Huskey has concerns about his speed and quickness. That didn’t stop him from snagging 11 interceptions in three years. Anthony Jr. has great size and length, along with developed pass rush skills. Unfortunately, there are serious questions about his run defense.
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The Bears could do a lot worse.
Based on draft opinions from several experts, the team would come away with four players who have a legitimate chance to play immediately. Parker is obvious. Bernard can easily find his way into the slot receiver role. Injuries at linebacker make Golday’s chances easy. Jones may not overtake Garrett Bradbury, but he’d be a lock for their long-term starting job. That is pretty solid work by Ran Carthon. While not an “ideal” scenario, fans should be excited about such a possibility.
Will it go this way? Probably not. Based on what we’ve heard lately, it’s looking more and more like one of two outcomes is the most likely for the Bears. Either they will take an offensive tackle with that 25th overall pick, or they will trade down. The team’s opinion of the defensive options they’ll see at that spot isn’t all that high. Carthon did the best he could with what was available. We can call his projection the floor of what is possible. The goal will be to build on it.
