Raymont Harris Pick: 114

Harris was never a superstar but for a kid drafted in the 4th round he turned out to be a solid contributor. He was a fan favorite and worked his butt off for the team but was never given respect by an organization that preferred to draft big name running backs that couldn’t perform. Harris was the consummate player and never said a word. He just showed and was ready to kick ass when his team called on him. Commentators like John Madden coined the phrase “all-back” as a result of watching Raymont Harris. He would run the ball on play, lead block as a fullback the next play, and go over the middle and catch a pass the next play. He did anything and everything the team asked of him. Over 54 games he gained 2,509 yards and 16 touchdowns, while throwing his body in front of tacklers for the likes of Rashaan Salaam and Curtis Enis. He was respected and feared among the players in the league for his punishing style of running. He would wear down the opposing defense throughout the game and punish them in the fourth quarter to take over the game. He’s everything that Cedric Benson wishes he could be, but never will. He was a true class act and should have been treated with more respect by the Bears.

Chris Villarrial Pick: 152

The Bears were hoping to get a decent offensive guard in the 5th round of the draft in 1996. They ended up with a 10-year starter on the offensive line that helped anchor 155 games. Anytime you can pick up a key member of your team in a late round and have that player contribute for a decade, you have just done your organization a huge favor.

Marcus Robinson Pick: 108

Taken in the 4th round of 1997, Marcus didn’t develop right away, but when he did he was amazing. He with the Bears for five seasons, accumulating 187 catches, 2,695 yards, and 20 touchdowns before leaving. His breakout season was his second with the Bears when he caught 84 passes for 1,400 yards and 9 touchdowns. He was a great find and good team player that was always greatful for his success. He returned to Chicago this summer to retire with the team where he had the most success and happiness in his career. He played a season in Baltimore and three in Minnesota but never experience the explosive success he had in Chicago.

Patrick Mannelly Pick: 189

Never heard of Patrick Mannelly? That’s because most fans don’t pay much attention to the long-snapper. You heard me right. Mannelly was drafted in the 6th round of 1998 and is still the starting long-snapper for the team. He has played in 157 NFL games and has never started and pretty much doesn’t have any NFL statistic to associate with his name. However, he has hung around with the Bears and collected a professional football player paycheck for 10 years because he can snap the ball to the kicker and punter. You really want to teach your kids the secret to success in the NFL without the risk of injury? Teach them to long-snap.

Jerry Azumah Pick: 147

Jerry’s career was cut short by injuries but despite being drafted in the 5th round and 10th player drafted by the Bears in 1999, he contributed. The athletic corner back started for three years and was named to one Pro Bowl and 10 career interceptions. He played seven seasons and later in his career he really started to shine as a major player in the defense. He finished 2002 with 82 tackles, 2003 with 82 tackles and 4 interceptions, and in 2004 he played 12 games and finished with 51 tackles and 4 interceptions. After that he was plagued by chronic injuries that forced him to retire from the game.

Rosevelt Colvin Pick: 111

Colvin was taken ahead of Azumah in the 1999 draft in the 5th round and had much of the same success. He was paired with a young Brian Urlacher at linebacker and the pair would become a fierce duo for offenses to manage. He only stayed with the Bears four seasons and didn’t do much his first two seasons, but once given the starting game he flourished. He finished 2001 with 69 tackles and 10.5 sacks and 2002 with 64 tackles and 10.5 sacks. Starting quarterbacks learned to keep an eye on Colvin or suffer the consequences. He left for New England and played a key role in their great linebacker unit and is now headed to the Houston Texans.

Michael Green Pick: 254

Mr. Irrelevant of 2000 taken in the 7th round turned out to be anything but for the Bears. The cornerback ended up playing strong safety for the Bears and was named the starter in his third season. He finished 2002 with 100 tackles and remained the starter for three seasons. It’s quick amazing to think a kid taken so late in the draft could end up playing such a major role on a great defensive unit. However, he is another example of how injuries can cut a player short and he was out of the league by 2007. But for a few years he was able to climb from the basement of obscurity in football to a top safety in the league.

Alex Brown Pick: 104

Taken in the 4th round of 2002, Brown has been relied upon as a developing star at defensive end. Coaches didn’t have a lot of confidence in him originally but he has a very strong work ethic and has become an outstanding student of stopping the run. He was replaced last season by Mark Anderson but Anderson had trouble stopping the run and Brown was quickly put back to work. The Bears recognized their need for the big run stopper and signed him to a long-term deal this past year. He’s been a starter for five seasons, and even though he prides himself on getting after running backs, he has accumulated 31.5 career sacks along with his 283 career tackles.

Bobby Wade Pick: 139

Taken in the 5th round of 2003, Wade had a tough time in Chicago. He had trouble getting involved on the offense and coaches decided to try his talent on punt and kick returns. The result was disasterous as Wade constantly battled fumble issues and coughed up several punts in key game situations, often letting the ball bounce off his chest and right between his hands. Fans started to boo when he ran out for a punt and probably made matters worse for Wade as his fumble troubles got worse. Coaches got frustrated and Wade was allowed to go to leave to Tennessee and now Minnesota where he is enjoying some success.

Justin Gage Pick: 143

Taken four picks after Wade, their careers have mirrored one another. In four seasons with the Bears he never broke out but now with Tennessee he enjoyed a career year last year and established himself as a real threat. Too bad neither player found their stride before leaving Chicago for a new destination.

Nathan Vasher Pick: 110

Taken in the fourth round, “The Interceptor” has developed into a starting cornerback was locked up last season with a long term contract. In four seasons with the Bears he has 130 career tackles and 17 career interceptions. He has earned a reputation as a shut down corner and when he spent most of the last season injured the defense appeared to play differently without him. He offers a security for the other players on defense that he can hold is own and create plays and turnovers. That kind of confidence from your teammates cannot be easily replaced and he will play a big role in the defense being able to dominate this season.

Chris Harris Pick: 181

The Bears made a huge mistake with 6th round pick Harris when they traded him in his third season to Carolina for a draft pick. The Bears assumed they had extra talent at safety, the position Harris played, after signing Adam Archuleta last off season. Archuleta is no longer with the Bears after a disappointing season and Harris had a career year in Carolina. He finished last season with 97 tackles and 8 forced fumbles and only has more potential to grow. The Bears may be sorry they let this talented late round safety go for so little.

Honorable Mentions:
(recent picks that could go either way)

Mark Anderson - Taken with the 159th pick in the 5th round he had a break out rookie year with 12 sacks, but last year he only had 5 sacks and looked like he still had a lot to learn. When he started last season he looked worse and appears to be better just coming in on third downs. It remains to be seen if he will return to form his third season or continue to decline.

Trumaine McBride – Taken in the 7th round with the 221 pick in last year’s draft, he was heavily relied upon last season in an injury plagued defense. He ended up a starter and playing in all 16 games at cornerback last season, starting in 9 and accumulating 35 tackles. It may not be amazing numbers but for a rookie thrown in the mix taken in a round where he should have been on the practice squad, that’s a pretty good find. Coaches are keeping on eye on how he is able to develop as a player as a result of his vast playing experience last season. He may be able to build upon that experience and become a key player on the defense.

Number 10: Marc Columbo

Drafted with the 29th overall pick of 2002, Columbo is more of a Bears bust than NFL bust.  The Bears had high hopes for the large right tackle, but towards the end of his five year stint with the organization he had severe injury setbacks.  After a couple years of having trouble getting back on the field, he was released.  Fortunately, this story has a happy ending because Marc signed with the Dallas Cowboys and has had great success and no injuries.  If he had stayed as healthy in Chicago he probably would have been a fan favorite and an anchor on the offensive line.

Number 9:  Alonzo Spellman

Drafted with the 22nd pick of the first round in 1992, Spellman was an extremely athletic defensive end that had the physical talent and ability for greatness.  While he did manage to collect 43 sacks over his 9 year career, he was always haunted by his own shadow.  Coaches couldn’t understand why a player that appeared destined for greatness could never reach the next level on the playing field.  Spellman was good, but never reached his promised greatness.  Later in his career he was plagued by mental conditions that likely started earlier in life and went ignored.  It culminated in an episode in which he was seen walking around his neighborhood bare foot and locked himself inside his house, creating a stand off with police.  Hall of famer Mike Singletary was brought in to talk to Spellman and agree to get treatment. 

Number 8:  David Terrell

Drafted with the 8th overall pick in 2001, I have a hard time putting Terrell up here because I really think he was a talented receiver.  He had all the makings of a great receiver, but 1,602 yards and 9 touchdowns in 4 seasons, he earns a spot on the list.  Terrell is another example of a receiver running his mouth instead of his legs.  It’s tough for a young receiver to get used to the NFL when Bears quarterbacks were rotated every game during his career.  However, a receiver should talk to coaches and quarterbacks about breaking off routs when you see your quarterback scrambling so you get create plays.  Instead Terrell was content to pout on the field and see his criticism of teammates printed in the papers.  He had enough talent to get consideration from a few teams after leaving the Bears, but never saw great success.

Number 7:  Rex Grossman

Drafted with the 22nd overall pick of the 2003 draft, I wouldn’t quite call him a complete bust yet but he’s riding the fence.  He has thrown for 5,907 yards, 31 touchdowns, 33 interceptions, and some forget that the first half of the 2006 season he played well enough to be considered for MVP.  However, we all know his trouble his consistency and regression with his mechanicals.  Most of his success has come when he can utilize the play action pass and when the running game fails, he becomes a big target.  Hopefully with the release of Benson the Bears can find a new back to establish the running game.  Grossman still has time to resurrect his career, but this could be his last chance with the Bears.

Number 6:  Rashaan Salaam

Salaam was drafted with the 21st pick of the first round in 1995.  He came out of the University of Colorado fresh off winning the Heisman Trophy and had Chicago buzzing.  That buzz quickly turned to boos as fans became frustrated with a running back that couldn’t get anything right.  He played four years with the Bears and put together only 1,684 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns.  There were no bright spots in his career, he never seemed to figure out how to transfer his success in college into success in the NFL.  His rookie season he rushed for 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns but the rest of his career was plagued with problems on and off the field.  He’ll be most remembered by fans for his frequent fumbles to cough up the game. 

Number 5:   Cade McNown

Drafted with the 12th overall draft pick in 1999, the Bears would learn the hard way they have difficulty drafting on offense.  He only lasted 2 seasons with the Bears, passing for 3,111 yard, 16 touchdowns, and 19 interceptions.  McNown constantly struggled on the field, resulting in boos from the fans and caused him to further decline.  After signing McNown, the Bears released quarterback Erik Kramer, a fan favorite and my favorite Bears quarterback of the last 20 years.  He also had to compete with Jim Miller and Shane Matthews.  Miller had injury issues that gave McNown windows for playing time, but his poor play and the fan preference of Miller was overwhelming.  McNown was quickly traded and bounced around the league before retiring.

Number 4:  Curtis Enis

Taken with the 5th pick of the first round in 1998 he appeared to solve the Bears running back troubles.  The results were disappointing to coaches and fans alike.  He lasted three seasons with the Bears, rushing for 1,497 yards and 2 touchdowns.  He never broke the 1,000 yard rushing mark in a season and was a disaster from the start.  Worse yet, Enis left the Bears and would never play football for another team, a true indicator of how poorly he adapted to the NFL.  Bears fans tear their hair out when they remember the Jacksonville Jaguars were willing to give up both their first round picks to trade up and get Enis.  The Jaguars settled on drafting a kid named Fred Taylor. 

Number 3:   Cedric Benson

Drafted with the 4th overall draft pick of 2005, he has to be the most disappointing draft pick in recent memory.  He was praised as the solution to all the Bears rushing problems and came in with an extremely impressive pedigree from the University of Texas.  He had all the makings of a great running back but he was another example of how some college backs never adapt to the NFL.  Rushing for 1,593 yards and 10 touchdowns in three seasons he was determined that he could make his punishing, steam roller rushing method in the NFL.  However, the NFL has little room for slow backs that run with their backs straight up and allow defenders to take shots at them.  Even if Benson had any success, his running style would have resulted in a very short career.  He was injury prone and wouldn’t change his methods.  He also became a liability on third downs when he almost seemed to refuse or not care to bother blocking a blitz.  Coaches eventually became as frustrated with him as fans and his recent alcohol arrests gave the team no choice but to release him.

Number 2:  Rick Mirer

The Bears didn’t draft Mirer, but they did trade their 1997 first round pick to Seattle Seahawks to bring him to Chicago.  Mirer had come into the league as a golden boy after a great career at Notre Dame, but the longer he stayed in the NFL, the more problems he had on the field.  The fans in Seattle had enough of Mirer and the Bears thought a change of scene could jump start his career.  The results were a complete flop.  Mirer barely played in 1997 and was cut the beginning of the next season.  In exchange for a first round draft pick, the Bears got 420 passing yards, 0 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. 

Number 1:  Michael Haynes

Haynes has a unique place in Bears history as a great trivia question to test die hard fans.  Name the first round draft pick of 2003 taken 14th overall and ahead of Rex Grossman.  In 2003 the Bears grabbed Haynes and later took Grossman with the 22nd pick.  There is no other way to describe Haynes than the biggest waste of a first round draft pick in the last two decades.  He stayed with the club three seasons, played in 42 games, and managed 5.5 sacks as a defensive end.  I have never seen a first round draft pick come into Chicago and almost immediately disappear.  From kick off to the final whistle you could count on Haynes being as far away from the ball as possible.  He never started a game, never made a difference, and wasn’t even well known enough by fans to merit a boo.  The person who scouted Haynes for the draft should have lost their job.