The 2026 NFL Draft is finally complete with the Chicago Bears being one of the 32 teams to participate.
Overall, the Bears had a solid draft, receiving a B- grade for the entire class. Like any draft class, there will obviously be hits, misses, busts, and late-round diamonds in the rough.
Perhaps the most memorable bust in recent Bears history is wide receiver Kevin White.
Remembering one of Chicago Bears' biggest draft busts in Kevin White
White, touted as one of the top wide receivers in the 2015 NFL Draft, went 7th overall to the Chicago Bears. White was the first pick of the Ryan Pace era (2015-2021). Even though things may not have worked out, it's pretty easy to see why the Bears were so enthusiastic to draft White.
Standing at 6-foot-3, 216 pounds, White was regarded as a viable replacement for star wide receiver Brandon Marshall, whom the Bears jettisoned to the New York Jets prior to the draft. The goal was for White to arrive in the Windy City and become an explosive, big-bodied target for then-quarterback Jay Cutler.
While most receivers taken in the top 10 enjoyed illustrious careers in the SEC or Big Ten, White came from humble beginnings that should have made him a fan favorite in Chicago. He started his college career at Lackawanna College, a junior college in Pennsylvania, and then transferred to West Virginia University with the mindset of proving himself to NFL scouts.
White blew up at West Virginia, racking up 109 catches, 1,447 yards, and 10 touchdowns. In the 2014 Liberty Bowl, White finished the day with seven catches for 129 yards and a touchdown in a 45-37 loss to Texas A&M.
There was no denying that White was one of the best receivers in the country, especially after receiving First-Team All-American honors and becoming a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, ultimately losing out to Alabama's Amari Cooper.
White's underdog story continued at the Bears' training camp in August when tragedy struck. During a team practice, White suffered an injury to his left leg in his tibia. The injury was so gruesome that it required doctors to insert a steel rod into his tibia. White missed his entire rookie season as the Bears went 6-10.
Injuries continued to derail White's career. After four successful starts in the 2016 season, White suffered yet another injury to his left leg. This time, he broke his left fibula and missed the remainder of the season.
And in 2017, he broke his left shoulder blade and missed significant time yet again. The following season, he saw limited playing time, appearing in nine games.
Overall, White's repeated injury history caused the Bears to let White find a second chance on another team. White finished his Bears career in earnest with 25 catches, 285 yards, and zero touchdowns in five starts.
After a few short stints with the San Francisco 49ers and New Orleans Saints, White never had a breakout season in the NFL. Even though White never formally retired, his last playing time was in 2022 with the Saints.
While it may have been interesting to see White in the Canadian Football League (CFL) or the United Football League (UFL) and have a career resurrection, it never materialized.
White was ranked as the second biggest draft bust in Bears history, with number one being Cade McNown, per Sports Illustrated.
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In retrospect, White had all the makings of an All-Pro receiver in the NFL if it hadn't been for injuries. If things had played out differently, he could still be playing for the Bears today. Despite his NFL career not panning out, no one can take away the success he had at West Virginia.
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