Chicago Bears Insider: The Top 10 Later-Round Draft Choices in Bears History
It's draft time, and things are moving a little slow with the NFL ownership and the players association failing to have come up with an agreement to let NFL operations proceed normally this offseason.
We haven’t seen free agency happen yet, and that’s leaving many of us wondering exactly what is going to happen and how the Bears are going to look in 2011.
So with free agency being a barren wasteland right now, I thought that it might be interesting to take a look at some of the better late-round draft picks that the Bears have had over their long history.
The criteria for making this list is that the pick must have come in the fourth round or later and must have had some significant impact on the team (Pro Bowl, Hall of Fame or other outstanding series of plays).
So sit back and read on as we take a look at 10 of the top later-round draft choices in Chicago Bears history.
Note: This list is in no particular order.
Johnny Knox, WR (Picked in 2009, Fifth Round, Pick No. 4, 140th Overall)
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While his career is still going and going in the right direction, the Bears were lucky to find the speedster in the draft where they did.
Knox has made the Pro Bowl as a kick return specialist and had a very good season in that role as a rookie. He has the skill to be an effective wide receiver with the team in the future but needs to learn how to run better routes and be more consistent.
Kyle Orton, QB (Picked in 2005, Fourth Round, Pick No. 5, 106th Overall)
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I know that there will some people that feel that the selection of Orton doesn’t warrant mention here, but as Bears fans, we should remember that Orton helped keep the seat warm and the Bears winning back in 2005 when the Bears went to the playoffs (he held it together for Rex Grossman).
Orton didn’t play too badly during this tenure with the Bears and did help (as part of a trade) to bring current quarterback Jay Cutler to Chicago.
Nathan Vasher, CB (Picked in 2004, Fourth Round, Pick No. 14, 110th Overall)
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The Bears got some good seasons out of Vasher, and he ended up going to the Pro Bowl in 2005 and was selected as an All-Pro that same year thanks to his solid play at the cornerback position.
Vasher was also very valuable as a return specialist until the Bears started to use Devin Hester in that role. He grew out of his role with the Bears and was eventually let go and is now part of the Detroit Lions.
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Jerry Azumah, CB (Picked in 1999, Fifth Round, Pick No. 14, 147th Overall)
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The Bears have had a lot success with return specialists in the past few years, and Azumah was perhaps the first of those successful return specialists. He wasn’t known for his defensive skill as much as he was his ability to return kickoffs, and he was voted to the Pro Bowl in 2001 and selected to the All-Pro team that same year.
Incidentally, he was also named the Walter Payton Man of the Year.
Patrick Mannelly, LS (Picked in 1998, Sixth Round, Pick No. 36, 189th Overall)
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Why is there a long snapper on this list? Mannelly has been one of the steadiest players for the Bears in the past decade-plus and has been a key cog in the wheel of their special teams unit.
He’s getting close to retirement now, but his longevity and his consistency have been very important for the Bears during his time with the team.
Kevin Butler, K (Picked in 1985, Fourth Round, Pick No. 25, 105th Overall)
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Butler was a rookie during the Bears' big run to the Super Bowl and ended his career as the Bears' all-time leading scorer. Butler was one of the most accurate kickers in the team’s history and is remembered as an important part of the championship run in 1985.
Tom Thayer, C (Picked in 1983, Fourth Round, Pick No. 7, 91st Overall)
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Thayer may not have made the Pro Bowl during his career, but he was an important part of what has been the most dominant offensive line in Bears history.
Thayer played consistent football for the Bears at all times and came to the team at a good time (after being drafted and then going to the USFL). Now, Thayer is part of the Bears radio network and calls games with Jeff Joniak.
Richard Dent, DE (Picked in 1983, Eighth Round, Pick No. 7, 203rd Overall)
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This list wouldn’t be valid if we had left Dent out. Dent was a real find in the eighth round of the draft, and he has now validated his solid career by being selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Named MVP of Super Bowl XX, Dent ended his career (overall) with 137.5 sacks and was named to the Pro Bowl four times, selected as a First Team All-Pro twice, named All-NFC five times and was also named a Second Team All-Pro twice.
Of all of these later-round selections, Dent had the most impact and is the best late-round draft pick the Bears have had in their long history.
Mark Bortz, OG (Picked in 1983, Eighth Round, Pick No. 23, 219th Overall)
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Bortz, like Thayer, was an important part of the Bears' offensive line during their Super Bowl season and made two Pro Bowls during his career with the Bears.
Bortz is often forgotten about when talking about the Bears' offensive line and the team that went to the Super Bowl, but he was definitely a key part of that team and should be recognized as one of the better late-round picks in Bears history.
Doug Plank, S (Picked in 1975, 12th Round, Pick No. 5, 291st Overall)
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Any Bears fan knows just what kind of impact Plank had during his time with the Bears. Plank was known as a fearless, hard-hitting defensive player that helped make the Bears defense known as one of the most violent in the NFL at that time.
While he didn’t make any Pro Bowls or receive any honors, he still deserves recognition for being one of the better late-round picks in Bears history.
Incidentally, former defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan named the 46 defense after the jersey number that Plank wore.
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