NFL Draft: Who is the Worst Bears Draft Pick Ever?
The NFL draft begins at 7 p.m. in New York. We take a look back at some of the Bears worst draft mistakes.
The NFL draft begins at 7 p.m. Thursday and the Chicago Bears have the 19th overall pick.
The Bears have a checkered draft history, to say the least. For every Walter Payton, there’s a Rashaan Salaam. But, of all Bears mistakes on draft day, which is the worst? We did our best to compile a list of worthy nominees and we limited our choices to the first round:
- Michael Haynes, 2003, 14th overall. The Penn State defensive end never developed into the dominant force the Bears envisioned. In three seasons with the Bears Haynes compiled 5.5 sacks.
- David Terrell, 2001, 8th overall. The highly-touted Michigan wide receiver played four seasons with the Bears and never caught more than 43 passes. Terrell also was charged with domestic battery this year.
- Cade McNown, 1999, 12th overall. The UCLA quarterback was supposed to be a franchise savior, but he played only two seasons with the Bears and won only three games. Although McNown did reportedly manage to get banned from the Playboy mansion.
- Curtis Enis, 1998, 5th overall. The Penn State runningback played only three seasons, never gaining 1,000 yards and averaging 3.3 yards per carry. A degenerative knee condition cut his career short.
- Stan Thomas, 1991, 22nd overall. The tackle from Texas started only 7 games in four seasons with the Bears.
- Joe Moore, 1971, 11th overall. This running back from Missouri gained only 287 yards in two seasons, averaging 3.2 yards per carry.
Those are our nominees. Vote in the comment section, or feel free to tell us who you think was the Bears worst draft pick.
Debbie
7:26 am on Thursday, April 26, 2012
I'm going to say St. Gilberts, because they have such a great staff and....oh sorry. Wrong poll.
Nightcrawler
7:39 am on Thursday, April 26, 2012
Good one!
Brian Slupski
10:02 am on Thursday, April 26, 2012
I would have to go with Cade McNown, although Enis was pretty disappointing.
Jeff Slater
11:10 am on Thursday, April 26, 2012
It's so hard to choose... there's been so many......
Brian Slupski
11:28 am on Thursday, April 26, 2012
Well...hopefully tonight they hit a homerun. This seems like a pretty deep draft for the most part...Mike Mayock has the Bears taking DE Chandler Jones...
Mark Stein
12:16 pm on Thursday, April 26, 2012
How in the world can Mike Hull not be on your list? He was a college running back drafted in the first round in the late 1960s as a tight end. He lasted a year or two and did nothing.
Brian Slupski
12:51 pm on Thursday, April 26, 2012
I think an argument can be made for Mike Hull. Hull was taken 16th overall in 1968 and played for 7 seasons (four with the Redskins). You're right. He did not do much of anything.
N.T. Wolfe
9:12 pm on Thursday, April 26, 2012
Hull would be my choice as well. Actually a pick they didn't make might be two years later when the Bears traded their first round pick to the Packers who selected Mike McCoy. Who did the Bears get....Bob Hyland, Elijah Pitts and Lee Roy Caffey!!!
Freddie
1:06 pm on Thursday, April 26, 2012
Add John Thierry and Marc Columbo to the list. Here are a couple other DEs who the Bears passed on in order to grab Haynes: Osi Umenyiora and Robert Mathis. Also on the board: Troy Polamalu, Nnamdi Asomugha, Anquan Boldin, Asante Samuel... well, you get the idea.
Brian Slupski
1:14 pm on Thursday, April 26, 2012
Hi Freddie
Columbo I left off the list because he ended up being a productive starter for the Cowboys...his Bears time was ruined by injuries...but he could play once he got healthy.
Sully
3:22 pm on Thursday, April 26, 2012
Brian, I've learned never to overestimate the wisdom of the Bears on draft day. I think McNown was the worst, with David (legend in his own mind) Terrell running a close second. I also think in some cases, the Bears were actually responsible for not better developing their players and it was as much their fault as the player's.
Jeff Stielow
3:41 pm on Thursday, April 26, 2012
Anyone in the first round or two by Jerry Angelo
Mark T
7:00 pm on Thursday, April 26, 2012
Rick Mirer. Yeah he wasn't a draft pick, but the Bears traded a #1 for him when they already knew he was bad.
Brian Slupski
8:24 pm on Thursday, April 26, 2012
You're right Mark...Rick Mirer should definitely be considered.
Benjamin Goldman
8:13 am on Friday, April 27, 2012
Cade Mcnown
Dan Pritzker
8:12 pm on Friday, April 27, 2012
Stan Thomas! What a bust. Ditka was forced by Michael McCaskey. Michael McCaskey couldn't judge a one legged butt kicking contest.
fish
7:10 am on Saturday, April 28, 2012
Not only was Mirer a bad trade with Seattle, but the Seahawks drafted Walter Jones with the Bears pick. Future Hall-of-Fame left tackle wouldn't have hurt.
Bill Walsh
6:03 pm on Saturday, April 28, 2012
Cedric Benson