Despite having one of the most talented rosters in the league, the Chicago Bears suffered from an early exit in the wild card round. With a young, up-and-coming offense and arguably the best defense in the NFL, there weren’t too many glaring needs on their roster. However, they weren’t a team devoid of holes, and they used the draft to fill some of their remaining holes.
Here’s our pick-by-pick breakdown of Chicago’s haul in the draft.
David Montgomery | RB | Iowa State
After Jordan Howard failed to adapt to Matt Nagy’s offense, the Bears found themselves in need of an overhaul at the running back position. In addition to Tarik Cohen and free agent signing Mike Davis, third-round pick David Montgomery will help form a three-headed monster at the position.
Montgomery is an ideal fit for the Bears’ offense. As one of the most well-rounded backs in the class, he has fantastic contact balance, impressive lateral agility and the ability to identify holes in a defense and exploit them. He also has value as a receiver, as his smooth hands, fluid routes and ability after the catch make him a big step up from Howard as a pass catcher.
Though not a burner in space, Montgomery is a do-it-all back who could develop into a 1,000-yard rusher relatively quickly.
Riley Ridley | WR | Georgia
The Bears made a luxury pick with their fourth-round selection, adding Riley Ridley to a group of wide receivers that already featured a lot of talent. Even if the Georgia wide out doesn’t see a lot of snaps in his rookie season, he projects as a potential impact player down the line.
Ridley stakes a reasonable claim as the best route runner in the 2019 draft. His body control, sharp lateral cuts, the sinking and flipping of his hips, and his ability to sell routes with his stems all provide nuance to his route-running prowess and make him a tough receiver to cover. He’s also a lengthy receiver at six-foot-one and can make tough adjustments to the ball on sideline grabs and contested situations.
He’s not as athletic as his brother Calvin, but Ridley’s technical skill could result in a role as the Bears’ starting Z receiver within the next year or two.
Duke Shelley | CB | Kansas State
Duke Shelley was a relatively surprising pick in the sixth round, as he fell under the radar during the draft process. Though it’s way too early to tell, the Bears could potentially have a diamond in the rough.
Shelley played primarily on the outside in college, but his five-foot-nine, 180-pound frame will see him convert to a slot corner. He’s an instinctive player who times his jumps on routes very well and isn’t afraid to make a play on the ball. His athleticism coming out of his breaks is impressive, and he’s quick to move once he diagnoses the play. Shelley also plays with a high motor in run support and has great closing speed.
Though the Kansas State defender could stand to bulk up a bit and improve his technique as a tackler, he already has the skills in coverage to see immediate snaps on defense. Buster Skrine stands in his way as the Bears’ starting nickelback, but the job could be Shelley’s in a matter of time.
Kerrith Whyte Jr. | RB | Florida Atlantic
The Bears doubled down on the running back position with their selection of Kerrith Whyte Jr., Devin Singletary’s backup at Florida Atlantic. While Whyte didn’t start at a Group of 5 school, there still figures to be a role for him at the next level.
Whyte is an athletic, big-play machine who broke out with 10 touchdowns on just 144 offensive touches in 2018. His straight-line speed is dangerous, as his 4.37 40-yard dash would have topped all running backs at the Combine and would have placed him in the top 10 for all positions. He accelerates very quickly, has great build-up speed, and has the contact balance to keep his momentum and run through defenders. He also serves as a valuable kick returner, as he averaged 26.1 yards per return and two touchdowns in his three years as Florida Atlantic’s primary kick returner.
Whyte doesn’t have the consistency in his vision to regularly hit the open hole, and his hands could still use a little bit of work. If all goes well, though, the Bears could have found a special teams ace and reliable backup running back.
Stephen Denmark | DB | Valdosta State
Bears general manager Ryan Pace has a history of selecting small-school talent, with the likes of Tarik Cohen, Bilal Nichols and Adam Shaheen all among the under-the-radar picks he has made during his tenure with the team. This year, Chicago added a true wild card: Stephen Denmark out of Division II school Valdosta State in Georgia.
Denmark brings a rare combination of size and straight-line athleticism to the table. At just a hair under six-foot-three and 220 pounds, he ran a 4.46 40-yard dash and jumped a 43.5-inch vertical jump, as well as a 10-foot-10 broad jump. A former wide receiver in college, Denmark has impressive ball skills and can high point jump balls well. He isn’t afraid to deliver a nasty hit, either, as he charges ball carriers with impressive closing speed.
His lateral agility and technique will need some work, and it may take some time for him to adjust to guarding NFL-caliber receivers. However, with his physical talents, Denmark could be an intriguing project as either a press cornerback or a strong safety.
