Recently a question came up about the worst draft the Bears ever had, the post said it was the 2005 draft. I wanted to counter with the 1999 NFL draft the Bears had, where they tood Cade McNown. But I did a little research and found that it was actually a very solid draft for the Bears.
1st Round: Cade McNown QB, UCLA: This was the pick that everyone I am sure knows about. No arm, negative attitude, terrible production. One of, if not the singular worst pick the Bears have ever made.
2nd Round: Russell Davis NT, UNC: No name player for the Bears. Played on the Bears for only one season. But, went on to play for Arizona for six seasons, recording seasons with 54, 44, 37, and 49 tackles between 2001 and 2004. Played for the Seahawks in 2006 and got a SB ring with the Giants last season, recording 224 total tackles and 11.5 sacks. Solid but unspectacular career.
3rd Round: Rex Tucker OT/OG, Texas A&M: Injury prone, but was not that bad when he was healthy for the Bears, played for the Bears from 1999-2004. Last played for the Lions last season.
3rd Round: D'Wayne Bates WR, Northwestern: A bust for the Bears, went on to play a few seasons for the Vikings, and was a practice squad player for the Rams.
3rd Round: Marty Booker WR, Louisiana-Monroe: A very solid receiver for the Bears, recording 2 1,000 yard seasons, good enough to net the Bears Wale in a trade. Now the presumptive #1 for the Bears in his 10th season. Very good pick for the third round.
4th Round: Warrick Holdman OLB, Texas A&M: Good starter for a couple of seasons on the Bears, netting a 100 tackle season, and several 70 tackle seasons for other teams, still had a job last season, currently a FA who could still find work.
4th Round: Roosevelt Colvin OLB, Purdue: A good LB and a great pass rushing LB, was a starter on the Bears who signed a big contract with the Patriots and won 2 SB's, getting to another. Now a player on the Texans who could compete for a starting job there. 52.5 career sacks. A steal in the fourth round.
5th Round: Jerry Wisne OT, Notre Dame: A bust. At least as much of a bust that a fifth round depth pick can be.
5th Round: Khari Samuel MLB, Massachusetts: See Jerry Wisne.
5th Round: Jerry Azumah CB, New Hampshire: Another late round find. He was a good corner for the Bears and one of the best KR in the NFL when he played. Had to retire after a neck injury. Another steal in the second day.
6th Round: Rashard Cook FS, USC: Picked and was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles. Managed to stick for 4 seasons, an accomplishment considering they had a playoff caliber team in the 2000's, and he was a 6th round pick. Not much of a player all in all though.
7th Round: Sulecio Sanford WR, Middle Tennessee: Who? Nothing special here.
7th Round: Jim Finn FB, Pennsylvania: Mr. Irrelevant. A solid FB for the last 9 seasons, got a SB ring with the Giants in 2007. A great pick for being the last one in the draft.
All in all, it was actually a solid draft. The pick of McNown gave it a bad light, when in fact the Bears got 5 starters out of this draft, and 2 more went on to be starters for other teams. That is a solid draft in anyone's book.
