How Will the 2009 Draft Class Help the Bears

The 2009 NFL Draft is over and teams are now sitting back and assessing what talent they have on their roster and making an attempt to see how the newly drafted rookies they got will fit on the roster.  The Bears are just one of the 32 teams undergoing this process right now.

Chicago didn’t have a first or second round pick in this year’s draft but they managed to get some good talent in the later rounds starting off with defensive tackle/end Jarron Gilbert out of San Jose State.  Gilbert, one of the better athletes in the draft, could help either inside or outside on the defensive line and give the Bears an improvement in their pass rush.  This guy could be a star with the team in the very near future.

With their second pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, the Bears took care of one of their more critical needs somewhat and selected Ohio State wide receiver Juaquin Iglesias.  Iglesias should make the roster this season and develop into a fine possession receiver who can help Jay Cutler and the offense move the ball down the field efficiently.  Texas defensive end Henry Melton is a bit of a project player but someone who, in a season or two could end up playing a role as a situational pass rusher on defense.

Cornerback D.J. Moore may end up being a steal for the Bears when it’s all said and done.  Once thought to have late first round talent, Moore fell all the way to the fourth round where the Bears grabbed him and now he will get a chance to vie for a starting role on defense.  With some development, it’s not out of the question to think that Moore may end up contending for Nathan Vasher’s starting spot but that remains to be seen.  However, he does have some learning to do.

One of the other players that might end being a steal for them at some point is Abilene Christian wide receiver Johnny Knox.  Knox has near elite speed but still needs some development as a wide receiver.  If the Bears can bring him along well and he can learn the system and refine his route running ability, Knox could be a big time playmaker in Chicago down the road.  Another player who could end up being a consistent contributor on the team is Ohio State linebacker Marcus Freeman.  Although he was somewhat consistent at times in college, he could end up working well in the Bear’s system especially on special teams.

Oregon State safety Al Afalava was brought in to provide some depth at the safety position and will probably have to make the team on special teams to start then work his way into the lineup from there.  Afalava has a lot of promise and has a great deal of potential and was a good pickup for a position that has had its troubles in recent years. 

Oregon State offensive guard Lance Louis comes to the Bears as an athletic tackle after having played tight end for a period of time in college.  While he may be a little short for the position, he is athletic enough to move with some of the best defenders and has a lot of potential.  He will be a name Bears fans hear sometime in the future.
Chicago’s last pick in the 2009 NFL Draft may not be as big of a long shot to make the team as some may think that he is (in being a seventh round selection) a long shot to make the roster, there are many people who have felt that Kinder has some of the best raw talent of any of the players the Bears selected.  If he can hang in there and learn Chicago may use his services as a receiver sometime down the road.

While Chicago may not have a pick in the first or second round which they could have used to grab a quality player (with starting potential) like they always do, they maximized their selections and picked a lot of good players that can help them out both now and in the future.  Look for Moore to be a real surprise for the team in the future and also watch as Iglesias and Gilbert step in and contribute right away.