Chicago Bears Draft Picks: Results, Analysis and Grades
After adding depth to the roster via free agency earlier this offseason, the Chicago Bears will now turn to the NFL draft to add youth to the team.
The Bears enter this year's draft with nine total selections, including two picks in both the fourth and sixth rounds. The team got production from five of its six selections last season, and Chicago will be looking for similar results in 2016.
Chicago holds the 11th overall pick in the first round, and we will be updating this live tracker throughout all seven rounds of the draft. In addition, we will analyze each pick and provide a letter grade for each selection.
Chicago Bears Picks
1 of 10Chicago will make five selections in the first 125 picks, and the team should be able to add one or more starters to either side of the ball. Since the Bears hold nine total picks, there is always a chance they could use some of their extra picks to move up in the draft to nab a player they covet.
With needs on both sides of the ball, it is hard to pinpoint where the Bears will go with their first selection. Outside linebacker, cornerback and left tackle could all be options in the first round, while Chicago could address defensive line, running back, safety and quarterback all in Rounds 2 through 7.
Check back here throughout the draft to see who the Bears have selected and when they will be back on the clock.
Round 1, Pick 9: Leonard Floyd, OLB, Georgia
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The Bears entered the first round with the 11th overall pick, but the team traded with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers up to the No. 9 spot to select Georgia outside linebacker Leonard Floyd.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Bears gave up the 11th overall pick and one of their fourth-round selections to move up to ninth overall.
Floyd is one of the most intriguing prospects in this year's draft because while he has the height (6'6") that fits on the outside in a 3-4 scheme, he lacks the desired bulk (244 lbs) for the position. He is explosive off the snap of the ball and impressed many by running a 4.60-second 40-yard dash in Indianapolis at the NFL Scouting Combine in February.
As a three-year contributor at Georgia, the the 23-year-old outside linebacker recorded 182 total tackles, 26.5 tackles for loss and 17 sacks, including 4.5 sacks last season.
He has the athleticism to make plays laterally against the run, and he proved last year at Georgia he has the ability to drop back in coverage. While he has the speed and athleticism to play outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme, there are concerns about his strength at the point of attack.
Floyd will make his living in the NFL as a speed rusher off the edge, but unless he can add some weight and get stronger, he will struggle to set the edge against the run.
Since the Bears have an outside linebacker who can set the edge against the run in Pernell McPhee, Floyd is a fit in Chicago because defensive coordinator Vic Fangio will be able to unleash his rookie pass-rusher on one side knowing he has a solid all-around outside linebacker in McPhee lining up on the opposite side.
According to WGN Radio's Adam Hoge, Floyd is the type of player head coach John Fox wanted to get in this draft.
"John Fox told you he wanted speed. Leonard Floyd provides speed," Hoge tweeted.
Floyd is a project at the position because of his lack of bulk, but his speed and athleticism will give Fangio another player to build around on the defensive side of the ball.
Grade: B
Round 2, Pick 56: Cody Whitehair, OL, Kansas State
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Chicago traded up in the first round to select Floyd and opted to trade back in the second round to select Kansas State's Cody Whitehair.
The Bears held the 41st pick but traded the selection to the Buffalo Bills for the 49th pick, the 177th overall pick in the fourth round and Buffalo's fourth-round pick in 2017, per Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times.
After it traded back to the 49th pick, Chicago flipped that pick to the Seattle Seahawks for the 56th overall selection and the 124th overall pick in the fourth round, per Dan Durkin of CBSChicago.com.
Whitehair has experience playing guard and tackle, but his best position in the NFL is at guard. His versatility is an asset, but the team has a logjam at the guard position with Kyle Long, Matt Slauson, Manny Ramirez and Ted Larsen.
Whitehair is a strong lineman who plays with a solid base and is athletic enough to get out in front on tosses and sweep plays to the outside. He is at his best in pass protection because of his quick feet and hand usage, but his run blocking should improve while playing on the inside at guard.
In his scouting report of Whitehair, CBSSports.com's Dane Brugler compared the young lineman to Dallas Cowboys Pro Bowl guard Zack Martin.
"Although not as physically gifted as Martin, Whitehair is a similar player with his ability to square up to defenders and control the point of attack," Brugler wrote. "And similar to Martin, Whitehair is a college left tackle who will move inside to guard in the NFL."
His addition has Chicago Bears radio network sideline report Zach Zaidman believing one of the team's starting guards is likely on his way out of Chicago.
"Have to think Matt Slauson has likely played his final game for the Bears," Zaidman tweeted.
While the guard position wasn't Chicago's greatest need, the team got great value in Whitehair late in the second round. He is not flashy, but he is the type of player who will anchor the middle of Chicago's offensive line alongside Long for years to come.
Grade: A
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Round 3, Pick 72: Jonathan Bullard, DE, Florida
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Chicago passed on 5-technique defensive ends A'Shawn Robinson and Jarran Reed in the second round, but the team got nice value in the third round in Florida's Jonathan Bullard.
A four-year contributor for the Gators, Bullard finished his collegiate career with 175 total tackles, 34 tackles for loss and 12 sacks. He finished his senior season with 63 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. At 6'3" and 285 pounds, he has good size for the defensive end position in Chicago's 3-4 scheme.
Bullard has a quick first step and is active as a pass-rusher. He is at his best when asked to stack and shed on the edge in the running game, and he proved at Florida he can be a two-gap player. His long arms (33 ⅝") help him gain an advantage immediately off the snap, and he gives maximum effort on every down.
He does have a tendency to pop up out of his stance and will need to learn how to control his pad level in the NFL. While he is considered a maximum-effort guy, sometimes his eagerness can get the best of him. If he gets in a hurry to make a play, his technique and footwork tend to suffer.
Chicago has only two true 5-technique defensive ends on the roster in Akiem Hicks and Mitch Unrein, and Bullard will have a chance to compete for a starting job opposite of Hicks this summer.
Grade: B
Round 4, Pick 113: Nick Kwiatkoski, LB, West Virginia
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Chicago held the 117th overall pick in the fourth round, but the team traded up to the 113th spot with the St. Louis Rams to select West Virginia linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski.
According to Zaidman, the Bears traded the 117th selection and the 206th pick to move up to the 113th overall selection.
A three-year starter for the Mountaineers, Kwiatkoski recorded 275 tackles, 28.5 tackles for loss, six sacks and six interceptions between 2013 and 2015.
He began his career at West Virginia as a safety, and that skill set translates to his game at inside linebacker. He moves well from sideline to sideline and also has the ability to drop back in coverage. Kwiatkoski is a solid tackler who knows how to work through traffic to make plays.
At 6'2" and 243 pounds, Kwiatkoski needs to add bulk to his upper body because he can struggle at the point of attack.
Pro Football Weekly's Hub Arkush liked the value Chicago got with the selection.
"It's all about value and Kwiatkoski to the Bears at 113 is a really nice value. Highly productive college career, a ton of want-to," Arkush tweeted.
Chicago added Danny Trevathan and Jerrell Freeman in free agency to man the inside linebacker positions in 2016, but Kwiatkoski will give the team much-needed depth at the position. At worst, Kwiatkoski will provide the Bears a reliable tackler on special teams, and he will be able to fill in on the inside in a pinch.
Grade: B
Round 4, Pick 124: Deon Bush, S, Miami
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With its second pick in the fourth round, Chicago upgraded the safety position by selecting Miami's Deon Bush.
A four-year contributor and three-year starter for the Hurricanes, Bush finished his career at Miami with 168 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, four sacks and four interceptions.
He needs to improve against the pass because he has a tendency to play a bit stiff in coverage, but Bush is at his best up in the box against the run. He makes great reads on the ball once it is in the air but struggles to keep up with speedy receivers.
He attacks well downhill against the run and can also blitz the quarterback off the edge. His coverage abilities will limit him, but CBS Sports' Rob Rang and Dane Brugler compared him to Dashon Goldson.
"Like the 6'2', 205-pound Goldson, Bush has the combination of closing speed, physicality and ball skills every scouts is looking for. Their highly aggressive play, however, can also lead to critical mistakes," wrote Rang and Brugler.
Bush could push veteran Antrel Rolle for the starting strong safety job this summer, but he is more likely to be a special teams contributor in his rookie season unless he can improve his technique in pass coverage.
Grade: C
Round 4, Pick 127: Deiondre' Hall, DB, Northern Iowa
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Three picks after taking Bush at No. 124, the Bears added another defensive back to the mix in Northern Iowa's Deiondre' Hall with the 127th overall selection.
Hall played both free safety and cornerback at Northern Iowa, and that versatility is likely what caught general manager Ryan Pace's attention. At 6'2" and 199 pounds, Hall has terrific size for the position, and he has some of the longest arms (34 ⅜") of any defensive back in this year's draft.
The young defensive back uses his long arms to break up passes in the air, and they also help him play physically at the line of scrimmage. He is not afraid to come up and play against the run, and he forced three fumbles last season.
He has a tendency to play a bit stiff and upright off the snap but is quick enough to carry wide receivers down the field. His footwork is sloppy, but he showed improvement in that area from his freshman year to his senior year.
Where he plays in the NFL is a bit of question mark because he does not have elite speed on the outside and lacks the bulk of an ideal safety. Even with those question marks, ESPN's Matt Bowen thinks Hall was a nice pick for Chicago.
"Size at 6'2". Crazy length. Flashed at Senior Bowl. Needs technique work. But has frame to play press," Bowen tweeted after the selection.
If Chicago opts to use him at cornerback, he could push Tracy Porter in training camp for playing time on the outside. If Hall moves to safety, he and Bush could both battle Rolle for one of the starting safety spots opposite of Adrian Amos in 2016.
Grade: B
Round 5, Pick 150: Jordan Howard, RB, Indiana
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After using five of its first six picks on the defensive side of the ball, Chicago added Indiana running back Jordan Howard to the offense with the 150th overall selection.
A two-year starter at Alabama-Birmingham, Howard transferred to Indiana last year. In 2015, he rushed for 1,213 yards on 196 carries with nine touchdowns in nine games. He did miss four games last season due to injuries, and that could be why he fell all the way down to the fifth round.
Howard is a patient, bruising runner who reads blocks well and can fit his frame through tight windows. He possesses quick feet and continues to drive his legs for extra yards. He is powerful between the tackles and is athletic enough to bounce to the outside.
The young running back does have a tendency to run tall and will need to learn how to maintain his pad level in the NFL. He has solid hands out of the backfield and proved he has the tools to be reliable in pass protection.
With Matt Forte no longer on the roster, Howard will have a chance to push Jeremy Langford and Ka'Deem Carey for carries in his rookie year.
Grade: A
Round 6, Pick 185: DeAndre Houston-Carson, S, William & Mary
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In the sixth round, the Bears selected their third defensive back of the day in William & Mary's DeAndre Houston-Carson.
Like Hall, Houston-Carson has experience lining up on the outside at cornerback and could slide into that role in Chicago. He started three years at cornerback before moving to free safety in 2015. He is a reliable tackler who can make plays against the run, but he is at his best in zone coverage.
He possesses smooth hips and quick feet, but he can take bad angles on ball-carriers at times. He reads the quarterback's eyes well and has a knack for making big plays. The young defensive back finished his collegiate career with 293 tackles and 10 interceptions.
NFL.com's Lance Zierlein praised Houston-Carson's skill set and believes he can make an impact in his rookie season as a special teams contributor:
"Houston-Carson exudes confidence and football intelligence on the field and plays with the swagger of a D-1 safety. In coverage, he is instinctive and responsive and trusts his eyes. While he is a ready, aggressive tackler, he still needs more beef on his frame and has to fine tune his angles to the ball to eliminate some of the big plays he has had a hand in. His physical and mental tools are starter's quality and his special teams talent should get him on the field right away.
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Chicago clearly viewed its secondary as an issue heading into this draft, and like Bush and Hall, Houston-Carson gives the team versatility and upside. It will be difficult for him to fight for a starting job considering the logjam the team now has at the safety position, but there is no doubt he can make an impact on special teams this season.
Grade: B
Round 7, Pick 230: Daniel Braverman, WR, Western Michigan
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Chicago closed out their its by selecting Western Michigan's Daniel Braverman in the seventh round.
At 5'10" and 177 pounds, Braverman is a quick slot receiver who could fight for a roster spot this offseason. He is more quick than fast and caught 212 passes for 2,499 yards and 19 touchdowns in three seasons at Western Michigan.
Pro Football Focus listed the young receiver as the 12th-best remaining prospect heading into the third day of the draft.
"He might be a slot-only receiver at the next level, but he’s very good in that role regardless. No player in this draft class averaged more yards per route run from the slot than Braverman’s 3.27," said the report.
Braverman does not offer much in the deep-passing game, but he will give Jay Cutler a reliable target in the middle of the field. It will be difficult for him to make the roster this year with guys like Eddie Royal and Marc Mariani ahead of him on the depth chart, but he could develop on the practice squad.
Grade: B
All stats and combine information courtesy of NFL.com and Sports-Reference.com.
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