The 2009 NFL Draft was relatively uneventful for the Chicago Bears but that is because they had already made their big move weeks earlier, trading for quarterback Jay Cutler. There is no question the Bears gave up a lot to acquire Cutler, including first and third round picks in 2009 and their first rounder in 2010, but it’s almost impossible to overpay for a proven, 25-year-old franchise signal caller. Through a series of trades the Bears still wound up making nine picks in the ’09 Draft but they didn’t make a single selection on Day One. The acquisition of Cutler made this Bears effort a success before they ever turned in a card but they still needed a strong showing on Draft Day to provide their new star with the help he’ll need both next season and beyond.
When all of the wide receivers they were targeting were off the board in round two the Bears opted to move down, acquiring third and fourth round picks for their trouble. In somewhat of a surprise move Chicago opted to use their top pick, #68 overall, on San Jose St. DT Jarron Gilbert even though they appeared to be pretty deep at the position. Gilbert really put himself on the map with a strong senior campaign (22.0 TFL and 9.5 Sacks) but he became an internet sensation and draftnik darling when YouTube footage of him jumping out of a swimming pool surfaced. An outstanding athlete with a rare blend of size (6-5, 288) and speed (4.87), Gilbert is still raw but he has a world of potential and should get excellent coaching from his new position Rod Marinelli. Gilbert is slated for backup duty as a rookie but he will try to work his way into the defensive line rotation and could see action at both tackle and end. Later in round three the Bears gave Cutler another target to throw to when they selected Oklahoma WR Juaquin Iglesias. More of a possession type, Iglesias doesn’t have great speed but he is big, has reliable hands, runs good routes and will do all the little things. In fact, Iglesias brings a lot of the same things to the table as Brian Robiskie, who was chosen almost two rounds earlier. Devin Hester is the only known-quantity in the Bears wideout corps so Iglesias should have an opportunity to compete for considerable playing time as a rookie.
Chicago landed an intriguing prospect in round four when they chose Texas DE Henry Melton. A terrific athlete who began his Longhorn career as a running back, Melton actually rushed for 625 yards (4.7 avg.) and 16 touchdowns in 2005 and 2006. Melton moved to the other side of the ball as a junior and won the starting job opposite Brian Orakpo in 2008. While not a finished product by any stretch of the imagination Melton improved by leaps and bounds as a senior and his best football is still ahead of him. More of a left defensive end prospect, Melton will provide depth initially and could be groomed as a potential long-term replacement for Adewale Ogunleye. Later in round four the Bears got a great value when they selected Vanderbilt CB D.J. Moore, who was considered to be a first round possibility at one point. A great athlete with excellent quickness, Moore is an opportunistic playmaker in the secondary who has such good hands that he also saw some action at wide receiver in college. Unfortunately Moore didn’t test well in workouts and after running a mid-4.5 forty at just 5-9 and 190 pounds his stock began to drop precipitously. On the bright side Moore landed in a great situation and since the Bears don’t have much depth at cornerback he could compete with Trumaine McBride and Zack Bowman for a nickel or dime role as a rookie.
With the first of two picks in round five the Bears took a flyer on small school speedster Johnny Knox out of Abilene Christian, who blazed a 4.34 forty at the Scouting Combine. A junior college transfer who racked up 118 receptions for 2,227 yards (18.9 avg.) and 30 touchdowns in his two seasons with the Wildcats, Knox is an elusive big play threat and profiles as an exciting option in the slot. Don’t be surprised if Knox, who has reportedly outperformed Juaquin Iglesias in minicamps, makes a serious push for significant playing time as a rookie. Chicago landed a potential steal with their next pick when they chose Ohio St. OLB Marcus Freeman, who was overshadowed by teammate and friend James Laurinaitis during their time in Columbus. After entering the 2008 season as a potential first round prospect Freeman battled injuries as a senior and didn’t perform up to expectations. However, Freeman turned in impressive performances at both the Senior Bowl and Scouting Combine and provided scouts with a glimpse of what he’s capable of when healthy. Freeman is exactly the type of undersized, speedy ‘backer that the Bears love and he could eventually push Jamar Williams for the backup weakside job behind Lance Briggs.
The Bears continued to strengthen their secondary in round six with the selection of Oregon St. S Al Afalava. A stout, physical safety who is much better in the box than he is in coverage, Afalava will compete for a roster spot as a backup strong safety but his best chance to make the team will likely come on special teams. Chicago had two picks in the seventh round and they used the first on San Diego St. OG Lance Louis. After running a 4.7 forty at 6-3 and 303 pounds there was some talk of moving Louis to tight end, a position he played early in his college career, or fullback but it appears as though the Bears will keep him on the offensive line. Louis is a developmental project with some very intriguing physical tools but he will really have to impress to make the roster and might be destined for the practice squad. With their final choice the Bears added another wide receiver, this time opting for Pittsburgh’s Derek Kinder. A good all-around player who does everything well but nothing great, Kinder will try to win the #6 job in training camp but with two other rookie pass catchers virtually assured of making the roster he is likely facing an uphill battle.
On the basis of the Cutler trade alone Chicago did an excellent job in this draft. Some will criticize the Bears for not landing a potential #1 wide receiver, and in many ways that is valid, but the bottom line is they simply didn’t have the ammunition to move up for a Hakeem Nicks, Kenny Britt or even Brian Robiskie. Ultimately Chicago did a nice job with the picks they had left, getting good value and adding some very talented prospects. The Bears had one of the worst passing attacks in the league last year yet still managed to just narrowly miss the playoffs with a 9-7 record. It’s not a stretch to think that Cutler and a healthy defense could put them over the top in 2009 and if Chicago does emerge as serious contenders they will have this NFL Draft to thank for it.
