Chicago Bears Make Two Best Picks in 2016 NFL Draft According to PFF
The Chicago Bears made an impressive group of selections in the 2016 NFL Draft. They have received high marks from nearly everybody doing draft analysis, but this one may be the most impressive.
Second-year general manager Ryan Pace is quickly going to become one of the most well-known front office executives in the entire NFL. After seemingly nailing his first draft with the Chicago Bears last year, Pace is getting rave reviews for his selections in the 2016 NFL Draft as well.
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In fact, aside from from the ridiculous draft put together by the Jacksonville Jaguars, partially because of the fall of linebacker Myles Jack, I would say that Pace and the Bears had the best overall haul throughout the seven-round process. From potential pass-rush star Leonard Floyd with the ninth-overall pick to major slot receiver steal in the seventh-round, the Bears should be extremely happy with their results.
As impressive as the Bears’ draft haul was, I never expected this to be the case. In a recent post over at the analytically driven Pro Football Focus titled “The 16 Best Picks in the 2016 NFL Draft” the Bears are heavily featured. Not only does PFF Senior Analyst Mike Renner showcase Bears’ third-round defensive end Jonathan Bullard as the best selection in the draft, he has Bears’ second-round offensive guard Cody Whitehair as the second-best pick.
Obviously, the numbers do not tell us everything, but for two productive players on tape to show up so well on the analytical side, this Bears’ draft haul could prove to be franchise-altering. Let’s take a look at what Renner had to say about the picks, starting with Bullard:
"To find a defensive lineman with Bullard’s upside in the third round is ridiculous value. However, Bullard isn’t even a high-risk, high-reward type player. His run-stopping ability will most certainly translate to the NFL after he led all of college with a +51.5 run defense grade a year ago. It’s a question of whether his athleticism will ever begin to translate as a pass rusher after he posted the 68th-best pass rushing grade in the FBS last year."
Also, here is what PFF had to say about the selection of Whitehair to Chicago.
"Whitehair is another college tackle that will almost certainly slide inside because of length concerns. He was the cleanest college tackle in the nation a year ago, leading all of the FBS in grading. His positioning and technique are already at the level of a seasoned NFL veteran and if he can put a bit more strength on his frame, Whitehair has the potential to be a top-5 interior lineman."
Wow, talk about his praise for two extremely talented players. Since the moment the draft ended, Whitehair was my favorite selection made by the Bears. Their ability to trade down twice in the second-round and still land an extremely valuable player was incredibly impressive, but I always loved the choice of Bullard as well.
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Bullard’s obvious run defense ability fits so well as a five-technique in the Bears’ defense, and his pass rush upside on the interior is exciting. He could easily become an absolute monster against the run in their base package, while eating opposing offensive guards alive with the pass rush in sub packages.
Whitehair is an absolute stud in the making on the interior offensive line. He is a pro-ready player who will add immediate value to the Bears’ offensive line as a pass protector and run blocker. The Bears cut long-time left guard Matt Slauson after the draft, creating an obvious opportunity for Whitehair to come in and start right away.
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Both Whitehair and Bullard were incredible picks, and are the centerpieces of the Bears’ entire draft haul. Both players represent a ton of upside heading in to their professional careers, but also have a relatively safe and stable floor. On the backs of selections like this, the Bears might be a team to watch in the very near future. Pace and company are doing an incredible job of righting the ship.