2017 NFL Draft: Chicago Bears final grade
By John Buhler
Fourth Round
Eddie Jackson
Safety, Alabama Crimson Tide
It keeps getting stranger. Eddie Jackson had a great career in the SEC playing for Nick Saban’s Alabama Crimson Tide. While he definitely made plays in the secondary as a on-field leader at safety, his specialty was in the return game. He unfortunately had his senior season in Tuscaloosa cut short by a broken leg.
Players don’t typically come out of Alabama fresh out of the box. Crimson Tide players usually have a good bit of wear and tear on them before they get to the professional level. Chicago doesn’t have the luxury of taking a player that is on the mend physically. Jackson has obvious talent, but how will that leg hold up?
Tarik Cohen
Running Back, North Carolina A&T Aggies
One guy that offered intrigue in the middle of the draft at running back was North Carolina A&T Aggies tailback Tarik Cohen. He was invited to the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis and definitely held his own, despite playing at a smaller HBCU school.
Cohen could complement Howard in the Bears backfield. Building their offense around the ground game makes sense, since it is historically difficult to move the chains aerially in the Windy City. Don’t fret over the small school label with Cohen. This might actually be the best pick that the Bears made in their terrible 2017 NFL Draft.
Fifth Round
Jordan Morgan
Guard, Kutztown Golden Bears
The Bears clearly love small school guys more than you. If a guy wasn’t on television regularly, or at all, all the more reason to use one of five 2017 NFL Draft picks on a kid. Chicago used its No. 147 pick on Kutztown Golden Bears guard Jordan Morgan.
He could be the best player from Kutztown since Andre Reed, or not. Either way, Morgan has usually earned positive attention during the draft process. This is a weak offensive line class as a whole. Maybe the Bears found something good in Morgan at No. 147?
Next: 2017 NFL Draft instant grades
Overall, this has to be one of the worst drafts any team put together in 2017. Chicago should be embarrassed, as the Bears’ highest profile move looked to be one with a lack of patience or foresight of a sure thing in Trubisky. Hopefully he becomes a superstar right out of the gate. Otherwise, this might be the last time Pace gets to pick dudes in April.