No team in the league is more loyal to its draft picks than the Chicago Bears. So the former college football players listed below will get every opportunity and more to make their mark on the squad.
Last year’s NFL Draft was pretty boring for you- the Chicago Bears fan. No first round pick in 2010 because of the Jay Cutler trade, but this years was a whole lot of fun. Despite having such a successful 2010 season that yielded Chicago picking #29 in the first round, the Bears have plenty of needs: safety, center, wide receiver, and most overwhelmingly of all- OFFENSIVE LINE!
Specifically tackle, which they went first.
Let’s breakdown the Bears picks in all seven rounds
By Paul M. Banks
Round one
#29. (29 overall) Chicago Gabe Carimi, OT/G, Wisconsin
We know the Bears offensive tackles are TERRIBLE. So this is an immediate impact pick.
Carimi, a 6-7, 327 senior from Cottage Grove, Wisconsin was named preseason First-team All-American by Lindy’s and Consensus Draft Services, as well as first-team All-American and All-Big Ten by Athlon Sports. He lived up to it by winning the Outland Trophy, the national award given to the best offensive lineman. He also tweeted if his new nickname should be “the Jew Bear,” creating a moniker that plays off his religious faith.
He’s shown both power and agility in pushing off defenders and opening holes. He’s arguably the top tackle in this draft, as his physical attributes set him apart from the rest: long arms, quick feet, and solid footwork.
Although he has a lot of experience and size, he still lacks athleticism and technique. Not sure yet if he’ll play on the right or left side in the NFL. He took over Joe Thomas’ (#3 overall pick in 2007) starting spot protecting the QB’s blind side, and never looked back.
“I was a freshman that year, so I took some technique from him,” Carimi said about what he learned from Thomas.
For those scouts out there who listed Carimi’s possible concerns as arrogant and injury-prone, you made a huge mistake in his evaluation. Carimi’s tenure as a Badger was nothing less than great, most evident from his Outland Trophy, an award given out to the best interior lineman in the country. Yes, I felt the need to list that fact twice- word counts be damned.
Carimi, a civil engineering graduate, is a smart kid who has never had any character issues at the University of Wisconsin and is merely a confident football player. As a consensus All-American, Gabe has let it be known that he strives to be the best lineman he can be, but his play has always backed up that notion.
FOR MUCH MORE ON CARIMI GO HERE
Round 2.
pick #21 (53 overall) Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon St
This Oregon State prospect was able to bench 225 pounds a whopping 49 times at the Combine workout. That’s a combine record. It took him just a minute to lift 11,025 pounds. Since Tommie Harris is gone, the Bears need help on the inside. This will shore up depth.
to see the whole second round mock draft
Round 3
#29 (93 overall) Chris Conte, S, California
Bit of a reach in a weak safety class, a real weak safety class. This guys is confident thinks he’s the best db in the class. I’m not so sure.
Round 5
#29 (160 overall) Nathan Enderle, QB, Idaho
Injuries led to a backslide in 2010. He didn’t really live up to his potential. A very weak QB class, Enderle got drafted on the potential he showed in 2009. This pick effectively said “hey Caleb Hanie is our bonafide #2 now, we can make this guy our #3- maybe”
Round 6
#30 (195 overall)
J.T. Thomas OLB, West Virginia
low risk, low reward on this late round pick.
Paul M. Banks is CEO of The Sports Bank.net. He’s also a regular contributor to Chicago Now, Walter Football.com, Yardbarker, and Fox Sports
He does a regular guest spot each week for Chicagoland Sports Radio.com You can follow him on Twitter @thesportsbank and Facebook