All six players drafted by the Chicago Bears in the 2015 NFL Draft were exactly what the team needed. It was evident that they were looking for players that could start as formidable playmakers this season. Here are the 2015 Chicago Bears draft selections:
1st Round, 7th Overall: WR Kevin White (West Virginia)
2nd Round, 38th Overall: DT Eddie Goldman (Florida State)
3rd Round, 71st Overall: C Hroniss Grasu (Oregon)
4th Round, 106th Overall: RB Jeremy Langford (Michigan State)
5th Round, 142nd Overall: S Adrian Amos (Penn State)
6th Round, 183rd Overall: OT Tayo Fabuluje (TCU)
Bears 2015 Draft Grade: 9/10
Chicago Bears 2015 NFL Draft Review
The Best Player: This year there were two extremely talented wide receivers in the 2015 draft class and one went to the Bears with their first-round pick. West Virginia’s wide receiver Kevin White will be filling the slot of former Bear Brandon Marshall and this selection comes with high expectations. He’ll be joining an exciting group of guys that consists of Alshon Jeffery, Eddie Royal, Josh Bellamy, and Marquess Wilson. Jay Cutler now has plenty of targets, as White can split single coverage with Jeffrey. This provides him with the openings to have a blowout rookie season.
The Head-Scratcher: Drafting offensive tackle Tayo Fabuluje in the sixth round is a definite head-scratcher, but I am going to give Pace and Fox the benefit of the doubt. Fabuluje has footwork issues that need to be addressed, he appeared to be gassed at the combine, and he fluctuates with his weight during the season. He looks too much like former Bear J’Marcus Webb on the field, but he could reach his potential with the right motivation and strength training. He was the first Bears rookie to sign a four-year contract so it appears that he will be a long-term project. Hopefully, he will rise to the challenge in time to replace veteran Jermon Bushrod.
The Surprise: When the Bears selected center Hroniss Grasu in the third round, most people were wondering why the Bears didn’t pick an available defensive end. Grasu was projected to be a third-round pick, so clearly this was right on the money. However, Grasu has problems with hand placement and got away with a lot of holding situations at Oregon, which won’t happen in the NFL. He tends to get pushed around and loses his balance when he is engaged with the same player. However, he has football intelligence and will learn with practice. His best friend happens to be offensive guard Kyle Long, so his training will be motivated for success.
The Steal: Most analysts were thinking defense, but the Bears were able to snag running back Jeremy Langford in the fourth-round as a great value pick. Langford rushed for 2,944 yds, 40 touchdowns and 568 carries for the last two seasons for Michigan State. The Bears are in need of a return specialist since they lost Devin Hester to the Atlanta Falcons. Langford has some speed and creativity which will help him in the return game. Langford is the “steal” of the draft because of the skill set that he will bring to the Bears backfield. He is going to add some incredible explosiveness to the run game in third down situations and kick-off returns.
Most Likely to Turn Heads in Training Camp: Defensive tackle Eddie Goldman will get a chance to play during the regular season, and he could turn out to be a solid defensive tackle for the Bears. He may surprise us all and turn out to be a solid pass rusher with the proper training.
The Rest: The Bears were able to grab safety Adrian Amos in the fifth round to shore up a very weak position in the Bears backfield. Amos was outstanding in zone coverage at Penn State, but he lacks the urgency to take chances. In this league, a player has to be aggressive against the run. However, Amos loves to stick to receivers and will be a welcome addition alongside Antrel Rolle.
Bottom Line: The Bears deserve a 9 because their draft picks were pretty consistent with their needs. They started off well with Kevin White and Eddie Goldman, who will be immediate starters, but they have a project with Tayo Frabuluje. They did well with Jeremy Langford as a possible punt return specialist and drafted a future center in Hroniss Grasu. I also liked the Adrian Amos pick, as they definitely need more help in the backfield. Overall, Ryan Pace and John Fox have the 2015 Chicago Bears future going in the right direction.
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