We all know it takes more than a single season to accurately assess the success of any draft class. Our own Josh Sunderbruch does a phenomenal job of explaining why this is and looking back at a more reasonable benchmark. But that doesn’t mean we can’t take a moment to look back and see how the early returns are looking, and if any selection would have been better spent elsewhere. What better class to assess than one of the more impactful ones we have seen in Chicago for some time? In this series,
I will go through each pick in each round and assign what I believe to be the best pick, worst pick and players that could have been selected instead.
Round 2 – Pick 39
Luther Burden III
With DJ Moore, Rome Odunze and Olamide Zaccheaus already on the roster, nobody expected the Bears to select a WR in the first two days of the draft. But then the former Missouri Tiger fell into their laps at pick 39 and Bears’ GM Ryan Poles pounced. Like the Loveland pick, Burden III may have felt like a luxury pick, but before the end of the season, both appeared to be a cornerstone of the Bears’ offense. Displaying sticky hands and electric playmaking ability after the catch, not only did Burden III post the highest catch percentage on the entire team (78.3) but he also had the longest yards per target (10.9), long catch (65 yards pictured here against Dallas) and led the team in receiving yards in four games including three of the final five of the season.
I was a huge fan of the pick and even more of a fan in retrospect. Seeing him play with the explosiveness he displayed while also having an edge to him endeared him to Bears fans all over. He plays with a chip on his shoulder and loves his teammates. I predict he will lead the team in receiving yards sooner than later and go down in the record books as an all time Bear great. Much like his rookie counterpart, Colston Loveland.
Other Potential Options:
Alfred Collins, DT – San Francisco 49ers pick 43
- 1 start, 1 sack, 17 tackles, 1 TFL and 4 QBH
JT Tuimoloau, EDGE – Indianapolis Colts pick 45
- 0 starts, 0 sacks, 17 tackles, 1 TFL and 6 QBH
Aireontae Ersery, LT – Houston Texans pick 48
- 16 starts, 8 sacks allowed with 11 penalties in 1,082 snaps (664 passing)
Nic Scourton, EDGE – Carolina Panthers pick 51
- 8 starts, 5 sacks, 47 tackles, 7 TFL and 9 QBH
