Highlight Packages of EVERY Chicago Bears Draft Choice

This is going to be a very interesting season for the Chicago Bears. Year one under John Fox and Ryan Pace was mostly a transitional season where the front office worked on converting the roster to their vision. This could only be done incrementally. Last season was a mix of Phil Emery guys and Ryan Pace guys and John Fox and company did the best they could.

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This season we will really see a Pace-type roster. The pre-Pace roster spots could dip into single digits and several of the remaining veterans, despite being drafted by a different GM, fit Pace’s vision. Only Lamarr Houston and Kyle Fuller could be considered veterans that are only on the roster due to their contracts (and that is still to be determined).

There could be anywhere from eight to eleven rookies on the active roster this season. Several of them will have opportunities to make major impacts on Sundays for this team. You’ve heard all the analysts tell you what they think of the Bears’ draft picks, but take a look for yourself. Here are highlight packages of every Chicago Bears rookie.

Here’s a look at first round pick Leonard Floyd. He was used all over the place at Georgia, so he wasn’t used regularly as an edge pass rusher, but wherever Floyd is lined up in these highlights there are two things that any football fan can see- he’s an incredibly quick off the ball and he is constantly in the backfield. As long as he can put on weight so he isn’t bullied by offensive linemen, his athleticism gives him an opportunity to become a real force for the Bears’ defense.

Second round pick Cody Whitehair will probably be starting for the Bears at left guard in week one. He’s a polished offensive lineman who is ready to step in and contribute immediately. In the above highlight package you’ll see that he doesn’t make a lot of sexy blocks- you won’t see Whitehair pancake many guys or make crushing hits. What he’s excellent at doing is using the defensive player’s momentum against him, if their first move is away from the play’s designation, he takes them completely out of the play, he does a great job engaging players on pass protection and not letting them get by him, and he’s very agile and will excel at pulling and blocking in the open field.

A personal favorite- third round pick Jonathan Bullard has a chance to start as a rookie. Bullard has the ability to go around blockers or go through them, he is very disruptive in the running game and seems to live in the backfield making tackles for loss. His pass rushing skills need improvement, so if he is ready to contribute as a rookie, look for him to play frequently on first and second down but to be pulled in passing situations for better pass rushers.

The Bears had three fourth round picks in 2016 and used the first one on Nick Kwiatkoski, an inside linebacker from West Virginia. Kwiatkoski was selected as Jerrell Freeman’s replacement. Freeman is 30 and has no guaranteed money in the third year of his contract. Kwiatkoski will be used in sub packages and on special teams, but if he looks ready, he will take over for Freeman in 2018 alongside Danny Trevathan. Kwiatkoski isn’t the fastest individual and he may not be the strongest, but he lives in the weight room and has great instincts to get a step ahead of blockers and get on ball carriers. Even if starting ILB isn’t in his future, he should definitely contribute on special teams coverage.

Fourth round pick Deon Bush is an interesting choice. Bush had a very up and down final season at Miami and probably would have been drafted earlier had he come out one season earlier. Bush is a big hitter who can come up and contribute in stopping the run. But he doesn’t cover great in pass coverage, something the Bears can’t afford to have on the field with their lack of cornerback skills. One would assume the Bears drafted Bush as a developmental role and hope that he can contribute in year two or three. He will be a player to watch to see if he develops into a solid pro for the Bears.

Deiondre Hall was the last of the Bears fourth round picks. Whether he shakes out as a safety or cornerback will have to be determined once he’s on the field, but he’s not afraid of contact, has a long frame that should help him break up passes and could be a guy that could eventually intercept five to eight balls per year. Whether he has the speed and athleticism to make it on the NFL level will be the big question mark, but he has unique skills that will give him an opportunity.

Fifth round pick Jordan Howard could compliment Jeremy Langford nicely. Howard doesn’t shy away from contact and has the type of strength that should translate well at the NFL level. Howard doesn’t have breakaway speed so he’s going to have to get his yards the old-fashioned way, but if you watch the highlights, you will see an obscene amount of yardage after contact. Langford and Howard could make a dynamic pair for the next five years or so and could give the Bears a legitimate running game for the next several seasons.

DeAndre Houston-Carson is on this team for one reason and one reason only- special teams. He probably won’t ever project into a great every down defensive back, but he could be a dominant contributor on special teams. He lives to block kicks, does a phenomenal job covering punts, and is a magician down at the goal line keeping punts out of the end zone. He’s a small school player, but if his special teams contributions translate immediately, you could see him make some phenomenal plays on special teams this season.

Braverman was the Bears final selection of the Bears in 2016. Never has there been a seventh round pick with bigger expectations than Braverman. The Western Michigan product is projected by many to excel in the slot and could even be a key contributor as a rookie. The Bears will be in no rush to move him along, they have Eddie Royal for this year and can use Braverman regularly in 2017. Watching his highlights, he doesn’t do much that’s flashy, but he’s great and finding pockets in the defense and is very quick and can create space against defenders. He absolutely has a chance to be a late round steal.

There are two other rookies that went undrafted that Bears fans should keep an eye on this August. The first one is tight end Ben Braunecker who has a chance to not only make the final cut (as a practice squad member) but make the active roster straight out of preseason. You can tell Braunecker is a physical player with a soft pair of hands, but he’s wide open in a lot of these highlights. Will he be able to get that type of separation at the NFL level? That’s a legitimate question but a risk worth taking on a risk-free undrafted rookie signing.

One final rookie to watch in undrafted free agent Kevin Peterson. Peterson is too small and too slow to make it at the NFL level. Or is he? He has great instincts in coverage and he’s one of the most confident rookies in the league, despite not being drafted. He’s coming into camp with a chip on his shoulder and expects to make the Bears active roster. Will his instincts and football IQ be enough to make it at the next level? Watching the highlights, he always seems to be on his man like glue and closes well. He could be another steal for Ryan Pace and the Bears.

Bill Zimmerman is an editor and featured writer for FanSided‘s BearGogglesOn. Like his Facebook page or follow him on Twitter for more news and interaction.

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