2003 Chicago Bears Draft
First of all I would like to say I defiantly like what the bears did in the trades. I felt the Jet trade was very good trade. The Patriot Bear trade was just a good work of the phones. Cause it was a nothing trade for something. And the move to move up to the fifth was a fair trade, though I would have selected different. All the player profiles are taken from ESPN.
First Round
#14 Michael Haynes - DE - Penn State - 6/4 - 281lbs - 4.88 40yd
This may turn out to be a very good pick for the Bears. Though it was a complete surprise to me I thought they were going after Boller here. Haynes can play LE and it looks like Daniels won't be back next year. He is good against the run, and could be decent in the pass rush. I expect you to see Daniels move inside on third and longs and Haynes come in. The Haynes pick is also good because Daniels did go down in injuries last year, and our depth at DE was defiantly proven to be poor. He was my second best DE in the draft. Grade B
#22 Rex Grossman - QB - Florida - 6/1 - 217 lbs - 4.92 40yd
Well we got Rex Grossman. I didn't see this one coming. I honestly am very nervous about this pick. Now many people out there are very excited about this pick. He has been compared to a Brett Farve. I a month ago was the first to compare him to a Cade McNown. Now I like the Brett Farve comparison because well he is good. I though see a lot of McNown in him. Mainly because he is cocky and shorter. He does have a decent arm. Decent accuracy and is a winner. I like those things. I wish his arm was stronger though. He has good pocket presence. I really hope he breaks the Florida QB streak. But I don't know if he will. Personally I don't like this pick, and hope I am wrong. Grade C-
Second Round
#35 Charles Tillman - DB - Louisiana-Lafayette - 6/1 - 207 lbs - 4.49 40yd
We jumped the gun on this one. I feel he would of been there in a later round. But obviously our scouts really liked this kid. So I will give them the benefit of the doubt. They say he can play safety or corner. I don't know much on this kid. Supposedly a good tackler, and doesn't turn well at the hips. I don't think he will play safety. I like his size and speed. I wonder however how he will translate to the NFL. I have worries about his abilities in man coverage, but his size he should be able to jam on the line fairly well. I have to wait till training camp to find out if he is making it. But as of right now I feel this pick is a reach. Grade C-.
Third Round
#68 Lance Briggs - LB - Arizona - 6/1 - 242 lbs- 4.74 40yd
Decent pick. He has problems shedding blocks. Though they say he can play any of the line backing spots I have my doubts about him playing strong side. Decent covering ability, and average tackler. I do think he helps our LB core. However some people pensile him as our starter at Sam Backer. I highly doubt that. Knight has much more upside to me. But defiantly gives us some versatility and can improve his game. Good motor, but I have doubts on his athleticism witch some people say is higher then I feel. Grade B
Fourth Round
#100 Todd Johnson - S - Florida - 6/0 - 206 lbs - 4.59 40yd
I don't know about this pick. There were many safeties in this draft that I liked more then Johnson. Had a poor season this year. Is decent in run support, but wasn't nearly as good this year. I watched a few Florida games this year, and I honestly didn't think anything of him. He needs to become more aggressive and assertive. Could pan out, but needs to become a SS, cause Mike Brown is our FS. Unless he is brought in for back up purposes. Grade C+
#116 Ian Scott - DT - Florida - 6/2 - 312lbs - 5.14 40yd
I liked this pick. Scott is a big DT who can make plays. He was rated higher then this in many draft sites. I don't know if he has a huge future a head of him, but it was a solid pick. Quick off the ball and strong. Decent technique. He needs improvement on his pass rushing skills though. Not a great pass rusher. Pretty good in the run. Grade B
Fifth Round
#139 Bobby Wade - WR - Arizona - 5/10 - 193lbs - 4.68 40yd <
This kid kind of reminds me of Bobby Engram. He is a possession wide receiver with athletic ability. I don't think you will see him returning kicks though for us. Maybe line up next to Merritt in the Kick off department, but I honestly think Merritt will beat him out for punt duties. Good pick though in some aspects. Though I did think Kareem Kelly would be a better pick who actually went very late. I don't know how Wade will play out though. Quicker then fast. Good hands he is just short and this pick was mainly for special teams. Grade C
#143 Justin Gage - WR - Missouri - 6/4 - 217lbs - 4.65 40yd
Gage is some what of a project. Sort of like Marcus Robinson. He can jump and is naturally tall. Can make the jumping catches that we loved from Marcus. He may take time to develop. Isn't very strong, as the 217 pounds is very light for a guy 6-5. I would defiantly like to see some meat on his frame. This could turn out to be a huge pick for us, but he could turn out to be a dud. This guy should come into camp and give all of our receivers a challenge, and I defiantly like what he can bring to the table. Grade B+
#171 Tron LaFavor - DT - Florida - 6/1 - 290lbs - 5.1 40yd
I don't know about this one. Personally I don't like this pick. With Rashad and Langston Moore both on the board. Both who I think should have went higher. Volt Tron over here certainly is the pick I like least. I just don't really understand it. I can make sense of a few of the others, though some bother me, but this one I honestly just don't see. I woulda went with Rashad Moore so fast. But on to Volt Tron. He is sorta quick and can play. Needs a ton of work, and isn't a big nor a strong guy. Grade F
Sixth Round
#191 Joe Odom - LB - Purdue - 6/0 - 241lbs - 4.61 40yd
This is a very nice pick. Good athlete. Who can provide help in special teams, and a worthy back up to Holdman. Don't look for him to start any time soon. Pretty much only a Will Backer. Short, has to learn to shed blocks, and work on coverage. College Middle Linebacker I expect him to work at WLB. Some are saying he is our steal. Well I do like this pick but he is far from a steal. Grade B
#206 Brock Forsey - RB - Boise St. - 5/11 - 200lbs - 4.7 40yd
Actually a very interesting pick. Seems the bears really like these guys who are inside runners. A guy like Avon Cobourne might have been a better pick. But the bears seem to like this guy. Good college player no doubt about that. Very unknown. Good vision, and cut back ability. Downfall is he is slow. And not big. Good power however, and can catch well out of the back field. Kind of reminds me of a Leon Johnson. I hope he isn't that slow. Grade C
Seventh Round
#261 Bryan Anderson - G - Pittsburgh - 6/4 - 310lbs - 5.35 40yd
Well Last pick for us. Defiantly a project. Lacks quick feet and I wonder if they think he may be able to play RT, cause we have tons of guys who can play guard. Add a few pounds to him I don't see why he can't. Tough guy who works hard. Personally I don't know why we waited this long for a O-line man. I would of done this a long time ago. I don't know about this pick I would of defiantly went Kareem Marshall with this pick. Grade D+
Well there are many surprises with this draft. I don't think anyone expected Haynes with the 14th pick. And if you did your a liar. I would have defiantly went a few other ways. With Rashad Moore, Ben Johnson, and Pashos all falling dramatically from were I thought they would go. I do like a few of these picks, but am very made we didn't take Curry Burns. He was my guy in this draft. Odom, Briggs, Gage, Scott are all pretty solid picks to me. I have doubts on Forsey, Anderson, Tron, and Tillman. Though I do feel Tillman could be the best guy out of this draft, it was still a reach at this point. Tillman has the most upside in this draft. Grossman and Haynes are going to produce in two years. I have doubts on both them. But it was a solid first round. With some talent brought in the later rounds. I would have loved to see Tron not on this draft and a Moore selected.
Overall Grade C+