The Chicago Bears are once again without a first-round draft pick in this year’s NFL Draft, which is the final of two first rounders traded to the Las Vegas Raiders for Khalil Mack.
Maybe that’s a good thing. Because the Bears’ history of first-round picks over the last decade isn’t pretty. Names like David Terrell, Rex Grossman, Gabe Carimi and Kevin White are just a few of the many failed first-round picks that never panned out for Chicago.
But among those first-round busts were some gems that have been instrumental to the success of the Bears during their tenure. The Bears haven’t struck gold often in the first round in recent history, but when they have, those picks were perfect.
Let’s take a look at the Bears’ five best first-round draft picks since 2000.
5. Roquan Smith, LB
2018 NFL Draft, No. 8 overall
The Bears are known for linebackers and running backs. So when the Bears drafted inside linebacker Roquan Smith with the eighth overall pick in 2018, they were drafting who they hoped would carry on that tradition. And, from his small sample size, Smith has established himself as an important piece of this Bears defense.
In two seasons with the Bears, Smith has established himself as a leader in the middle of this defense. He’s racked up 155 total tackles, seven sacks, seven passes defensed and two interceptions during his short tenure. But from what we’ve seen from the former Georgia Bulldog during that span, he’s a foundational piece of this defense.
4. Greg Olsen, TE
2007 NFL Draft, No. 31 overall
For the first four years of his career, tight end Greg Olsen proved to be a vertical threat for the Bears offense. He was quarterback Jay Cutler’s favorite target during their two years together, where they were a perfect duo. In four years with the Bears, Olsen averaged 49 receptions for 495 yards and five touchdowns per season.
Perhaps the most heartbreaking thing is that Olsen would go on to thrive outside of Chicago. After the Bears traded Olsen to the Carolina Panthers, he grew into one of the game’s best tight ends. Guess who’s laughing now? Hint, it’s not Mike Martz, who died on a hill that consisted of Desmond Clark, Kellen Davis and Matt Spaeth.
3. Kyle Fuller, CB
2014 NFL Draft, No. 14 overall
For awhile, it looked like Kyle Fuller would wind up among the first-round busts drafted by the Bears. But facing a contract year in 2017, Fuller came to life and ultimately earned a second contract from the Bears. Since then, Fuller has garnered two Pro Bowl nods, in 2018 and 2019, as he’s been a cornerstone of Chicago’s secondary.
Fuller has led the Bears in interceptions each of the last two seasons, nabbing a career-best seven picks in 2018 and three in 2019. In the last three seasons, Fuller has 12 interceptions. After a rocky start, Fuller has grown into one of the NFL’s top cornerbacks, and he’s proving to be one of the Bears’ better first-round picks over the last decade.
2. Kyle Long, OL
2013 NFL Draft, No. 20 overall
Kyle Long brought leadership and a tenacity to the offensive line that the Bears had missed since Olin Kreutz left in 2010. When Long was healthy, he was among the best offensive lineman in the game. Look no further than his resume which, in his first three seasons, consists of three Pro Bowl nods from 2013-15, as well as a second-team All-Pro nod in 2014.
But the most frustrating part of Long’s tenure was the slew of injuries he struggled with over the last few years of his career. Long finished his last four seasons on injured reserve, including this past season when his season was cut short with a hip injury following Week 5. Long recently announced that he was “stepping away from football,” which we can all read between the lines as retirement, following a rash of injuries.
1. Brian Urlacher, LB
2000 NFL Draft, No. 9 overall
There’s no question who’s the unanimous decision for the Bears’ best first-round pick since 2000. Linebacker Brian Urlacher spent his entire 13-year career with the Bears, where he earned eight Pro Bowl nods, five first-team All-Pro nods, was named to the NFL All-Decade Team of the 2000s and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018.
Urlacher was the face of the Bears franchise for the entirety of his career, and he’s one of the best defensive players in Bears history. In 182 career games, Urlacher had 41.5 sacks, 22 interceptions for 324 yards and two touchdowns as well as 90 passes defensed, 12 forced fumbles and 16 fumble recoveries. He was simply a franchise-altering player that constituted everything it means to be a linebacker for the Chicago Bears.
