Mel Kiper is the godfather of NFL draft analysis, like it or not. He’s been around for four decades and has earned a reputation for having an outspoken opinion before, during and after the draft, and when he speaks (or writes), it’s worth paying attention.
Kiper issued his 2019 NFL draft grades Saturday, and the Chicago Bears earned a high mark even without a first- or second-round pick in the class. Part of his praise for the job Ryan Pace and his staff did included the trade for Khalil Mack, who essentially was the team’s first-round pick.
Chicago Bears: B+
So keep that in mind when you see that Chicago didn’t pick until No. 73, where it landed running back David Montgomery, a bulldozer at 222 pounds. With Jordan Howard gone, expect Montgomery to get early touches here, and keep an eye on Kerrith Whyte Jr. (No. 222), who sat behind Devin Singletary at FAU but is a stellar return man. Riley Ridley (No. 126) is an excellent route-runner, not unlike his brother, Calvin, though Ridley isn’t as explosive. That’s a solid value pick and a guy who could help Mitchell Trubisky.
We issued our Bears Wire draft grades here.
It’s really difficult to give a team — any team — a high grade for its NFL draft performance when the first pick comes in the third round, but the Bears’ 2019 draft class feels like it has a chance to make a big impact.
Montgomery will have a similar impact in Chicago that Josh Jacobs will have in Oakland, and Jacobs was selected with the 24th overall pick. He has a chance to be as big of a difference maker in the Bears’ offense as guys who’ve traditionally been selected a round or two earlier. That’s a home run.
Ridley might not be a fantasy football star, but he’s going to bring competition to the receiver group and with competition comes elevated on-field play, even from veterans like Allen Robinson and Taylor Gabriel. Ridley’s impact will be felt during the week, in practices and around the facility, as much as it will be on the field.
When factoring Mack and Anthony Miller into this year’s draft class, Pace was the clear GM valedictorian in 2019.
