May 06--In the hours before last week's NFL draft, Bears coach John Fox was understandably excited about the opportunity to strengthen his roster. Yet as Fox closed the final practice of a voluntary minicamp at Halas Hall on April 30, he also acknowledged the draft's unseen but powerful undercurrent.
"It's never an easy weekend for veterans," Fox said. "I respect what they do tremendously and it's never an easy weekend. But it's part of the business and part of the process."
In a league where job security can fluctuate faster than Chicago's spring weather, the draft often intensifies the pressure on the lower half of the roster. Often, as a new cast of hopeful rookies arrives, others once thought of as potential building blocks quickly turn into the odd men out.
The uncertainty is even more obvious this year in Lake Forest with Fox and new general manager Ryan Pace crafting a new vision with no obligation to show devotion to players their predecessors acquired or developed.
So just what is the ripple effect of the six-player draft class the Bears assembled last weekend? Here's a pick-by-pick look at the veterans put on notice by each selection.
Round 1: West Virginia receiver Kevin White.
Put on notice: Marquess Wilson.
The details: Wilson, who GM Phil Emery picked in the seventh round in 2013, seemingly has tantalizing potential. He's quick. He's athletic. He's long. But he now may be without much opportunity in Chicago. With the Bears selecting White in the first round just seven weeks after signing Eddie Royal, Wilson now projects as a No. 4 receiver at best.
And with the Bears figuring to keep tight end Martellus Bennett and running back Matt Forte prominent in the passing game, the No. 4 receiver role essentially equates into the No. 6 pass catcher. In other words, to stick around, Wilson had better prove himself valuable in another way. His career numbers of 19 catches and 153 yards aren't exactly attention grabbing. And he no longer has the GM who drafted him around to extend his window of opportunity.
Round 2: Florida State defensive tackle Eddie Goldman.
Put on notice: Will Sutton.
The details: Emery drafted a pair of defensive tackles on the second day of the 2014 draft, nabbing Ego Ferguson in Round 2 followed by Sutton a round later. But a major change to a 3-4 defensive system this spring seemingly leaves Sutton without a true fit.
Ferguson, Pace said, has shown enough to dabble at both end and nose tackle in the defense of coordinator Vic Fangio. And while Sutton took reps at nose tackle during last week's minicamp, he will be hard-pressed to earn his keep there with Jeremiah Ratliff and Goldman the preferred options. Whether he can prove himself as a viable option at end remains to be seen.
Round 3: Oregon center Hroniss Grasu.
Put on notice: Will Montgomery.
The details: Montgomery signed a one-year free-agent deal with the Bears on April 2. Not coincidentally, that was the same day the organization sent 36-year-old Roberto Garza out the door with a fond farewell. Montgomery played last season under Fox and new Bears offensive coordinator Adam Gase with the Broncos. So he seems likely to win a spot on the 53-man roster. And with center being one of the most difficult positions for a rookie to break through at, Montgomery has the inside track on becoming the opening-day starter.
But the Bears didn't invest a third-round pick on Grasu to keep him sitting for very long. Pace loves the rookie's quickness, balance and intelligence and will push line coach Dave Magazu to tap into that potential as soon as possible.
Round 4: Michigan State running back Jeremy Langford.
Put on notice: Ka'Deem Carey and Matt Forte.
The details: Like Wilson and Sutton, Carey no longer has the commitment of the GM who drafted him. And after a rookie season in 2014 during which he had only 36 carries for 158 yards without any significant impact on special teams, it's going to be difficult for him to turn the heads of the new regime. Both Langford and veteran Jacquizz Rodgers seem to bring more to the third phase than Carey, which is a must for any reserve running back.
Forte, meanwhile, undoubtedly still will be the top back in 2015, a true workhorse who will be a linchpin in the Bears' offensive success. But as he enters a contract year with his 30th birthday in December, Forte has acknowledged the distinct possibility that this may be his final go-around with the Bears. Langford's arrival only seems to heighten that likelihood.
Round 5: Penn State safety Adrian Amos.
Put on notice: Brock Vereen and Ryan Mundy.
The details: Sensing a theme here with Emery draft picks potentially being squeezed out by prospects in his successor's first draft class? Vereen's versatility, unselfishness and value on special teams gives him a chance to hang around on the 53-man roster when fall arrives. Furthermore, the Bears' depth at safety remains thin. So Vereen still could win a role as a key reserve.
Mundy's case? He was a reliable defensive contributor throughout 2014 and projects to be the opening-day starter again in September opposite Antrel Rolle. But Mundy joined the Bears last year on a two-year contract that will expire in March. So if he's anything less than superb this season and/or Amos shows a quick ascension, the sands in the hourglass may start to accelerate.
Round 6: TCU offensive lineman Tayo Fabuluje.
Put on notice: Jordan Mills.
The details: For context, keep in mind that it's not common for teams to find many diamonds in the rough late in the draft. The Bears' previous five sixth-round picks before Fabuluje: punter Pat O'Donnell, defensive lineman Cornelius Washington, cornerback Isaiah Frey, linebacker J.T. Thomas and quarterback Dan LeFevour.
In other words, Fabuluje's arrival is far from a guarantee that he ever will develop into anything more than a serviceable backup. And he's probably an ideal practice squad project for 2015. But Pace and Fox are hopeful they can tap into the upside of the nimble 6-foot-6, 353-pound lineman and get something out of him.
As far as NFL timelines go, Mills' transformation from fifth-round pick into a 16-game rookie starter in 2013 is ancient history given his inconsistency and struggles with a nagging foot injury last season. In other words, the hard working right tackle is entering a critical and pressure-packed phase of his NFL journey, needing to prove to a whole new regime of coaches and talent evaluators that he belongs. He will do so now with the competition elevating.
dwiederer@tribpub.com
