The Chicago Bears are without a first-round pick for the second straight season, so their first pick will come at No. 43 in the second round.
When considering the previous players that have been taken at 43rd overall, it’s a bit of a mixed bag in terms of impact.
Let’s take a look at the last 10 picks at No. 43.
2019: LB Jahlani Tavai, Lions
Tavai has only been in the NFL for one season so it’s difficult to judge the pick, but he showed promise in his NFL debut. In his rookie season, Tavai appeared in 15 games, where he logged 58 combined tackles, two sacks, two passes defensed and one interception.
2018: RB Kerryon Johnson, Lions
Johnson has shown promise in his short time in the NFL. But the one knock on Johnson has been his injury struggles, as he hasn’t played a full season since entering the league two years ago. In two seasons with Detroit, Johnson has 231 rushes for 1,044 yards (4.5 YPA) and six touchdowns.
2017: CB Sidney Jones, Eagles
Jones has been a disappointment up to this point for the Eagles since entering the league in 2017. While Jones missed most of his rookie season with an Achille’s injury, the following two seasons didn’t provide anything but flashes here and there. Last season, Jones logged 23 combined tackles, 8 passes defensed and two interceptions.
2016: NT Austin Johnson, Rams
Ultimately when you don’t earn a second contract with the team that drafted you, you’re a disappointment. And that was the case for Johnson with the Titans. Johnson served primarily as a rotational lineman and special teams contributor during his time in Tennessee. Johnson signed with the Giants earlier this offseason where he’ll get another chance to prove he has a future in this league.
2015: ILB Benardrick McKinney, Browns
When you earn a five-year extension worth $50 million, you know you’re doing something right. And it’s safe to say that McKinney has been a win for the Texans. McKinney earned his first Pro Bowl nod, after posting 101 tackles, four tackles for loss, one sack, three pass breakups, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries in his 14 games in 2019.
2014: C Weston Richburg, Titans
Since joining the NFL in 2014, Richburg has been a reliable member of the 49ers offensive line. Although Richburg is rehabbing a leg injury for the second straight offseason, and it appears that his future could be in doubt. The 49ers resigned his replacement last season Ben Garland, and they could turn to the 2020 NFL Draft for a potential successor.
2013: CB Johnthan Banks, Buccaneers
While hopes were high for Banks when the Buccaneers drafted him, his production waned during his four years in Tampa Bay. Banks appeared in 45 games — including 37 starts — during his first three seasons with the Bucs. But he only appeared in five games in 2016 before being released. Banks even had a two-game stint with the Bears in 2016 before exiting the league following the 2017 season.
2012: WR Stephen Hill, Jets
Hill is another example of a player with a ton of potential that never quite panned out. The Stephen Hill era only lasted two seasons with the Jets, and it was a merciful parting of the ways. While Hill spent some time with the Panthers after that, he never found his footing and didn’t play in another regular-season game.
2011: TE Kyle Rudolph, Vikings
It’s safe to say that Rudolph is a selection that has panned out well for the Vikings. Rudolph, a two-time Pro Bowler, has spent his entire nine-year career in Minnesota, where he’s proven to be a vital part of their offense. Last season, Rudolph had 39 receptions for 367 yards and six touchdowns. And, unfortunately, the Bears know his success well over the years.
2010: LB Sergio Kindle, Ravens
Believe it or not, Kindle spent two years in the NFL without recording a single tackle. That should tell you everything you need to know about Kindle’s time with the Ravens. Kindle only appeared in one game in 2013, where he got the lone sack of his career before finding himself out of the NFL.
