While the Chicago Bears had just five picks in the 2019 NFL draft, the hope is that each of those five selections winds up contributing to the success of this team moving forward.
That’s what happens when your team doesn’t have any glaring holes, minus a kicker position that’s like an annoying itch you just can’t scratch. With the Bears having those fundamental pieces in place on offense and defense, GM Ryan Pace was able to go out and add some valuable depth to an already impressive roster.
Here’s one thing to like about each of the Bears’ five draft picks.
David Montgomery: Contact balance
There’s a lot to love about Montgomery, including his vision, pass-catching ability, his character and his knack for making defenders miss. He’s a three-down back whose elusiveness makes him a threat every down. But perhaps Montgomery’s best skill is his low center of gravity and lateral jump-cuts, along with the best contact balance of any running back in his draft class. Montgomery led the nation in forced missed tackles in each of the last two seasons, which is a trait Pace believes will translate to the NFL level.
Ridley Ridley: Route running
While Ridley dropped to the fourth round, make no mistake, this was a second-round talent that fell right into the laps of the Bears. Riley, the brother of Calvin Ridley, isn’t as dynamic as his brother, but he’s a detailed route runner who can challenge defensive backfields. He has impressive get-off, knows how to attack leverage and find space and has good acceleration coming out of his break. While Ridley has run a limited route tree, his good traits suggest that he’s capable of expanding his route tree. He should benefit from a loaded room at receiver, including veterans Allen Robinson, Taylor Gabriel, Anthony Miller and Cordarelle Patterson.
Duke Shelley: Confidence
While Shelley’s measurables aren’t something to gawk at, what he lacks in size he makes up for in confidence. Shelley, an undersized cornerback out of Kansas State, has blazing speed, athleticism, good ball skills and is super competitive. Matt Nagy referred to Shelley as “vibrant” and “happy” and “excited,” and Shelley has already left a lasting impact on his teammates. He faces a new challenge as he begins his NFL career with his transition from outside corner to slot corner, which is due to his small stature at 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds. But he welcomes those challenges like any other challenge he’s faced.
Kerrith Whyte: Speed
While Florida Atlantic running back Devin Singletary got all of the hype, his backup Kerrith Whyte is someone who perhaps went underlooked in the draft. Whyte is a dual-threat on offense and special teams, and it’s his speed that makes him a weapon in both regards. In terms of speed, Whyte joins Tarik Cohen among Chicago’s backs with elite speed that could make him a serious threat. But perhaps more telling is his potential to contribute on special teams as a return man, where he’s used his game-changing speed to easily pull away from the opposition. With the Bears’ running game shaping up the way it is, Whyte looks like he could nab a roster spot as Cohen’s backup, while Mike Davis backs up David Montgomery.
Stephen Denmark: Measurables
Denmark isn’t your prototypical defensive back. The receiver-turned-cornerback has ridiculous measurables that make him an intriguing player to watch in training camp. There are plenty of 6-foot-3, 220-pound receivers, but there aren’t a lot of cornerbacks with those measurables, which is exactly why Denmark made the switch. Not to mention Denmark’s 79 ½-inch wingspan is just massive. He is still relatively new to the position, as it’s been just one year since he transitioned from receiver to cornerback. But he has a ton of upside, and it’ll be interesting to see whether he can earn a roster spot come training camp.
