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How Will History of No. 2 Overall Pick Effect Mitchell Trubisky?

By Clyde A. Speller

Sep 26, 2015; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Mitch Trubisky (10) on the sidelines. The Tar Heels defeated the Delaware Fightin Blue Hens 41-14 at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 26, 2015; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Mitch Trubisky (10) on the sidelines. The Tar Heels defeated the Delaware Fightin Blue Hens 41-14 at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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There are many Chicago Bears fans that are either happy, upset, or on the fence about the franchise’s choice of quarterback Mitchell Trubisky with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. Recent history shows that there is some hope for Trubisky to have success in the league, considering the players that have been selected in this No. 2 overall slot over the past 25 years. However, there is also a chance of this pick being an utter disaster.

Since 1993, 18 of the last 25 No. 2 overall picks have been offensive players. Along with Trubisky, six of those players have been quarterbacks (Carson Wentz, Marcus Mariota, Robert Griffin III, Donovan McNabb, Ryan Leaf, and Rick Mirer). Six were offensive linemen (Greg Robinson, Luke Joeckel, Jason Smith, Robert Gallery, Leonard Davis, and Tony Boselli), three were running backs (Reggie Bush, Ronnie Brown, and Marshall Faulk), and two being wide receivers (Calvin Johnson and Charles Rogers). The remaining seven defensive players include Von Miller, Ndamukong Suh, Chris Long, Julius Peppers, LaVar Arrington, Darrell Russell, and Kevin Hardy.

All of these aforementioned players that entered the NFL before Trubisky fall across the entire spectrum from Hall of Famer to the biggest bust in league history. Of course, the greatest of this list is hands down Marshall Faulk, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011. After Faulk, there’s potential Hall of Famers Calvin Johnson, Julius Peppers, Donovan McNabb, and if he continues with his level of play, Von Miller. And you could possibly add Ndamukong Suh to this group as well.

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After these upper-echelon players, then comes the likes of Reggie Bush, Ronnie Brown, Chris Long, Darrell Russell, LaVar Arrington, Leonard Davis, and Kevin Hardy, who all had more-than-solid careers in the NFL. This is to be followed by the worst of the bunch. Robert Gallery was in the NFL for nine years, but was considered a bust, due to the fact that he never could find his footing at his natural position of left tackle. Jason Smith had similar misfortune during his time in the league as well. And no one can forget the likes of Charles Rogers, Rick Mirer, and arguably the biggest bust in NFL history, Ryan Leaf. The one player that is tip-toeing the line of being a bust is Robert Griffin III, who may be on his final chance to prove his worth with the Cleveland Browns.

As for Luke Joeckel, Greg Robinson, Marcus Mariota, and Carson Wentz, it’s a bit too early say where they will fall among this list of players. What am I trying to say after all of this? Well, what I’m trying to express is that history shows that being the No. 2 overall pick doesn’t guarantee anything in the NFL. Trubisky could easily join the company of any of these players in this group. What it all comes down to is being put in the right situation at the right time with the right amount of preparation. So all you Bears fans out there who are still bitter at this selection (I must admit that I’m one of them), just trust the process and see where the chips will fall.

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