Chicago Bears: Full Career Predictions for 2011 Rookie Draft Class
Most fans and so-called experts believe the Bears made some great draft choices in the first two rounds while their third round pick was, at best, questionable. The remainder of their picks (no round four or seven pick, so fifth and sixth) were also less than exciting.
But they are what they are—there is no going back. So it's now time to focus our thoughts to this season (if it ever gets played) and beyond for these young players. After all, love them or hate them, they are Chicago Bears now .
Meanwhile, do any of you wonder what their careers will be like? Well, allow me to look deep into my fake crystal ball (hey, this gig doesn't pay enough for real crystal!) and project what kind of players these young Bears (no, I don't dare call them "cubs") might become.
Gabe Carimi
1 of 5
"The Jewish Hammer" was, by most accounts, a terrific draft pick for the Bears, especially considering how late they drafted in the first round.
Carimi is big and tough, but what kind of player will he be?
Well, first of all, he projects to be a starting offensive lineman in the NFL, and someone who should start from game one of the season, whenever that is. That;s a no-brainer.
Where the debate comes in is at which position is Carimi best suited long term?
Many scouts feel he is a right tackle. The Bears may try him at left tackle, since that is the position he mostly played at Wisconsin, but if so, that will be a mistake.
Look, I don't doubt that Mike Tice knows what he is doing. But you want this young man to be put i the best position to succeed. And that is right tackle.
Why? Mainly because he lacks the footwork to protect the QBs blind side. Now, the Bears don't exactly have a perfect fit there, but at least they won't be messing with the confidence of such an important draft pick by risking having him fail so early in his career.
Statistics are difficult to come up with for offensive lineman, so I'll just say this: I feel that Carimi will be a Pro Bowl-caliber player on the right side of the line for years to come.
Stephen Paea
2 of 5
Paea was another solid draft choice by the Bears. Like Carimi, Paea is big and nasty and is as strong as a bull. The former rugby player is just the kind of player that the city of Chicago should really take to.
As a player, his non-stop motor will be a visible upgrade over Tommie Harris, though he will need time to develop a good pash rush technique.
For the first season or two, I don't expect Paea to get a lot of sacks; perhaps three or four at most. But he has such strength and doesn't wear down over the course of a game such that he should generate enough inside pressure to force the the action toward the ends, which may increase Julius Pepper's sack totals.
Think Dan Hampton or Steve McMichael to Richard Dent, for example, in terms of how Paea's impact can be measured.
But it's as a run stuffer that Paea will shine. Over time, opponents will recognize how good this kid is if he stays healthy but I don't project him as an annual Pro Bowl type player.
'But a solid, strong force at such a critical position for a Bears team that runs the cover-2 will be huge for the Bears.
When his career is done, Canton won't be calling but he should be known as a solid player who played 10 years in the NFL.
Christopher Conte
3 of 5
"Wow, where do we go with this guy? I guess he's going to play safety for the Bears though I don't see him as a starter r in the NFL. He'll be a rotation guy and special teams ace who can contribute, but won't make any Pro Bowls.
"
Of course, he might also play some corner, though he didn't play the position all that well in college. Still, I don't understand the need to reach for this pick when they would have been better served with another offensive lineman or a wide receiver.
For his career, I project nothing exciting. I do think he is an NFL player, so I'll give him that much, but he won't have more than a handful of interceptions and maybe 100 tackles.
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Nathan Enderle
4 of 5
Enderle has a strong arm but isn't very mobile and in this NFL a quarterback can't be a traditional sitting duck or he will get killed. Heck, Jay Cutler is mobile and even he was almost destroyed last season.
I do not project Enderle to be anything more than a backup QB in the NFL long term. He will do nothing more than hold a clipboard behind Cutler and backup Caleb Hanie. In fact, if he plays for the Bears this season it will mean the team is in trouble.
He is raw, but with that big arm, someone will give him a chance. It's extremely difficult to project now, but I'll give him the career line of Todd Collins, just to keep this close to home. Don't laugh—how many kids coming out of college would love to have had a career like his?
J. T. Thomas
5 of 5
Thomas was a decent pick for the Bears because they need linebackers, with only two currently under contract, and because he has shown a willingness to perform on special teams.'
Thomas may see some time at linebacker as a rookie, but he will mostly be a special teamer if he makes the team, 'Longer term, I actually like his chances to contribute in limited play because his skills seem to match up well with what linebackers in Lovie Smith's defensive scheme are asked to do,
He isn't a real big hitter who is going to blow up running backs, but he can provide pass coverage and he has some speed. He should be a decent contain linebacker in the cover-2, though his career won't be stellar.
He will end up a journeyman who does well at times but when asked to play bigger minutes or in a defense that requires more of their lineman, he will prove to be less than an every down player.'
He will play six seasons in the NFL for three teams and be a good special teams gunner.
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