How did the Chicago Bears fare in the 2017 NFL Draft?
To spark up the offseason we are going to go back in time and regrade the Bears drafts of the past decade. Some will be a lot easier to grade than others but it will be a good exercise to look at recent history and compare it to what the team has and has not learned over its hits and misses. This edition, we will focus on the 2015 NFL draft.
1. Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
White’s NFL career has failed to get off of the ground so far. He missed the entirety of his first season with a shin injury that required season-ending surgery. White came back from that, but only managed to play in five games of the next season before a fibula fracture ended another season. White came along slowly but flashed in spurts over his first four games. Still, it is very tough to expect him to reach his first round status after such a slow start. As of now, Bears fans have to be in “believe it when I see it” mode, and when that is the mindset over a first round pick entering year three, it does not look like a win.
2. Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State
Goldman may need some help staying on the field as well, but he has flashed much brighter than White in 522 more snaps than White. Goldman was able to start in 12 games as a rookie and he flashed not just starter potential, but above average starter potential. Unfortunately, a nagging ankle injury in year two sidelined him for 11 of the team’s 16 games. Goldman should be healthy, and his much less serious injury history should have him back on the field with the same upside as always. So far, Goldman looks like a solid investment.