Chicago Bears 2017 NFL Draft Continued
The Chicago Bears trade up to select FS Eddie Jackson
Chicago Bears receive:
- Pick No. 112 – FS Eddie Jackson
Los Angeles Rams receive:
- Pick No. 117 – WR Josh Reynolds
- Pick No. 197 – Traded to New York Jets
Ryan Pace at least redeemed himself here doing what he does best: finding incredible value in the later rounds. Pace took a dart throw on a then-injured safety out of Alabama who proved to be great during his time in Alabama. Eddie Jackson has then become an elite safety as a turnover machine for the Bears earning himself All-Pro honors in 2018. Jackson disappointed under Chuck Pagano specifically in 2020, but he should return to form under new defensive coordinator Sean Desai.
Josh Reynolds was a solid option for the Rams never really amounting to much. His best season was in 2020 in which he caught 52 passes for 618 yards and two touchdowns. He signed with the Tennessee Titans this offseason to potentially replace Corey Davis.
Chicago Bears 2018 NFL Draft
The Chicago Bears trade up to select WR Anthony Miller
Chicago Bears receive:
- Pick No. 51 – WR Anthony Miller
New England Patriots receive:
- Pick No. 105 – Traded to Cleveland Browns who selected WR Antonio Callaway
- Pick No. 56 (2019) – Traded to Kansas City Chiefs who selected WR Mecole Hardman
It’s odd to say this trade was a win, but on paper it is. Anthony Miller showed a lot of promise as a rookie slot wide receiver for the Bears coming down with seven touchdowns on only 33 receptions. Since then, he has only four touchdowns across two seasons. His career-high in receiving yards came in 2019 with 656. He got phased out of the offense in 2020 with the emergence of Darnell Mooney then came back against the New Orleans Saints in the playoffs and got ejected.
Antonio Callaway had a solid rookie season for the Browns but never did anything after that. Mecole Hardman was a panic pick for the Kansas City Chiefs in case Tyreek Hill missed time with his off-field issues, but he didn’t. Hardman has been solid though getting 500 receiving yards in both of his seasons. I would have rather the Bears kept the picks though as Miller should be cut.