Bears draft record all over the board

While it can take three to five years to fully access a draft class in the NFL, Bears general manager Jerry Angelo has had the final say on Draft Day since 2002, and the results have provided good news and bad news.

It's easy to criticize Angelo's track record with first-round picks, and nearly the entire 2007 draft was a colossal bust. But Angelo has hit on some early- and middle-round picks, and his 2008 draft produced three starters and three backups who have and could continue to play significant roles.

Angelo said he actually prefers having the draft come before free agency, and the NFL work stoppage made that possible this year.

“From my perspective, I would like the draft to come first because free agency obviously is more expensive to fill your needs and do whatever else you want to do,” Angelo said. “In the ideal world, according to me, I would like to fill our needs and do whatever we can in the draft. Then, what we can't get accomplished in the draft, then you go in to free agency.”

Of Angelo's eight previous first-round picks before Thursday's draft, the results have been all over the board.

Defensive tackle Tommie Harris (2006) made three straight Pro Bowls before becoming a shell of his former self, partly because of injuries. Tight end Greg Olsen (2007) saw his role as a receiver decrease last year, but his overall play improved, and his production increased the two previous seasons after a solid rookie campaign. Offensive lineman Chris Williams (2008) has started games at left tackle, right tackle and left guard. It remains to be seen if he can become a better-than-average starter at any of them.

Offensive tackle Marc Colombo (2002) and running back Cedric Benson (2005) both had injury problems that were partly responsible for derailing their Bears careers, but both went on to have successful seasons elsewhere.

Rex Grossman (2003, 22nd overall) was also hampered by injuries, but he quarterbacked the Bears' Super Bowl XLI squad, although he ultimately fell from grace — with a thud. Defensive lineman Michael Haynes was taken eight slots before Grossman, and he was a bust (not fast enough to be an edge rusher and not stout enough to play inside).

The second round has also been a mixed bag for Angelo.

He snagged Charles Tillman with the 35th overall selection in 2003, and “Peanut” has been an above-average starter since the fourth game of his rookie season, starting a total of 110 games, missing just six games in the past six years.

Then there was defensive end Dan Bazuin in 2007, who never played a snap in the NFL. As a rookie, he suffered a knee injury in minicamp, reinjured it in training camp, necessitating surgery, and spent the season on injured reserve. He had another surgery on the same knee a year later before he was cut.

A year earlier, Angelo landed Danieal Manning and Devin Hester in Round Two. It seems the Bears have always been looking to replace Manning, currently a free agent, but he played well enough to start 56 games in five years, including 14 as a rookie and all 16 last year. Hester, drafted as a cornerback but converted to wide receiver, is the greatest return man in NFL history, but he has yet to become a top wide receiver.

The centerpiece of the Bears' running game, Matt Forte, came in the second round (44th overall) in 2008, as did defensive tackle Tank Johnson in 2004. Johnson was a solid player for the Bears but far from a solid citizen. He punched his own ticket out of town after three seasons following arrests involving drugs and unregistered firearms. He was a bystander when bodyguard and best friend William Posey was murdered at a nightclub the day after Johnson was charged with the firearms violations.

The second round also brought Mark Bradley, a talented athlete but a bust as a football player, who only occasionally flashed NFL ability as a receiver. In four years with the Bears he caught a total of 38 passes.

2010 Bears draft

1. to Denver for Jay Cutler

2. to Tampa Bay for Gaines Adams

3. S Major Wright, Florida

4. DE Corey Wootton, Northwestern

5. CB Joshua Moore, Kansas State

6. QB Dan LeFevour, Central Michigan

7. OT J'Marcus Webb, West Texas A&M

2009 Bears draft

1. to Denver for Jay Cutler

2. to Seattle

3a. to Denver for Jay Cutler

3b. (from Seattle) DT Jarron Gilbert, San Jose State

4a. (from Seattle) DE Henry Melton, Texas

4b. CB D.J. Moore, Vanderbilt

5a. (from Denver via Seattle) WR Johnny Knox, Abilene Christian

5b. LB Marcus Freeman, Ohio State

6. S Al Afalava, Oregon State

7a. to Tampa for OL Dan Buenning

7b. (compensatory) OL Lance Louis, San Diego State

7c. (compensatory) WR Derek Kinder, Pittsburgh

2008 Bears draft

1. OT Chris Williams, Vanderbilt

2. RB Matt Forte, Tulane

3a. (from San Francisco) WR Earl Bennett, Vanderbilt

3b. (to San Francisco)

3c. (from San Diego) DT Marcus Harrison, Arkansas

4a. (to Miami)

4b. (from Tampa) S Craig Steltz, LSU

5a. (from Carolina) CB Zackary Bowman, Nebraska

5b. (to Dallas)

5c. (from Seattle) TE Kellen Davis, Michigan State

6. (to Tampa)

7a. (from Miami) DE Ervin Baldwin, Michigan State

7b. OG Chester Adams, Georgia

7c. (compensatory) LB Joey LaRocque, Oregon State

7d. (compensatory) OT Kirk Barton, Ohio State

7e. (compensatory) WR Marcus Monk, Arkansas

2007 Bears draft

1. TE Greg Olsen, Miami

2a. (to San Diego)

2b. (from San Diego) DE Dan Bazuin, Central Michigan

2c. (to Green bay from Jets for Thomas Jones)

3a. (from San Diego) RB Garrett Wolfe, NIU

3b. LB Michael Okwo, Stanford

4. OG Josh Beekman, Boston College

5a. (from San Diego) S Kevin Payne, Louisiana-Monroe

5b. DB Corey Graham, New Hampshire

6. (to Washington for Adam Archuleta)

7a. (from San Francisco) CB Trumaine McBride, Mississippi

7b. OT Aaron Brant, Iowa State

2006 Bears draft

1. (to Buffalo)

2a. (from Buffalo) S Danieal Manning, Abilene Christian

2b. CB Devin Hester, Miami

3a. (from Buffalo) DT Dusty Dvoracek, Oklahoma

3b. (to Carolina for Ricky Manning Jr.)

4. LB Jamar Williams, Arizona State

5. DE Mark Anderson, Alabama

6a. FB J.D. Runnels, Oklahoma

6b. (from Seattle) OG Tyler Reed, Penn State

7. (to Miami for Brendon Ayanbadejo)

Position breakdown

Here's a look at the positions drafted by the Bears from 2006-2010:

Defensive backs: 11*

Offensive linemen: 8

Defensive linemen: 8

Wide receivers: 5

Linebackers: 4

Running backs: 3

Tight ends: 2

Quarterbacks: 1

* Hester was drafted as a cornerback but later switched to wide receiver.

Best pick:

WR Johnny Knox, 2009 (fifth round, 140th overall): Despite coming from little Abilene Christian, Knox contributed as a rookie with 45 catches for 527 yards and five TDs. He took another big step last year, leading the Bears with 960 yards and tying Matt Forte for the team lead with 51 receptions and five more scores. Knox is isn't physical, but he is a deep threat and has soft hands and good run-after-the-catch ability.

Worst pick:

DE Dan Bazuin, Central Michigan, Round 2, 2007. Multiple knee injuries robbed the 6-foot-3, 260-pound Bazuin of the quickness and pass-rush ability he demonstrated in the Mid-America Conference, where he had 15 tackles for loss and 10 ½ sacks as a senior. His draft stock climbed higher in the postseason, when he was named MVP of the East-West Shrine game on the strength of 2 ½ sacks.

Best draft:

The 2008 class. First-round pick Chris Williams has been somewhat of a disappointment, although he finished the 2010 season as the starting left guard. Second-round RB Matt Forte is a focal point of the ground game and a valuable component in the pass game. Third-rounder Earl Bennett is a key contributor and the Bears' most physical receiver.

Worst draft:

The 2007 class. After taking TE Greg Olsen in the first round, the Bears took players in the second round (DE Dan Bazuin), third round (LB Michael Okwo), fourth round (OG Josh Beekman), fifth round (S Kevin Payne) and the seventh round (OT Aaron Brant) who are no longer in the NFL.

2010 draft evaluation:bull; Round 3 (75) Major Wright, S: The Bears like his physical tackling style and his range as a center fielder. Showed promise early and may have earned a staring job by midseason were it not for nagging injuries. But he got valuable playing time at free and strong safety when he was healthy. Should contend for a starting spot this season.bull; Round 4 (109) Corey Wootton, DE: Showed glimpses of pass-rush ability in limited playing time and ended Brett Favre's career with his only sack. Has chance to be the top backup this year behind Julius Peppers and Israel Idonije. bull; Round 5 (141) Joshua Moore, CB: Made cameo special-teams appearances in three games. Needs to spend more time in the weight room and could struggle for playing time, but a solid off-season could make him a factor at a position that has depth but not much quality.bull; Round 6 (181) Dan LeFevour, QB: Bears hoped to sneak him on to the practice squad, but he was claimed by the Bengals after being cut.bull; Round 7 (218) J'Marcus Webb, OT: Tossed into the starting lineup at right tackle in Game Five because of injuries and subpar play by others, and he never gave the job back. Still raw but has the physical tools to last for a long time. At 6-foot-7 and 328 pounds, he has the size and strength to be a force in the run game, but his pass protection, especially against quickness, must continue to improve. NFC North comparisonHere's a look at how NFC North teams have done in the draft from 2006-2010: Bears Lions PackersVikingsTotal picks: 42 39 47 32 2010 starters: 7 10 13 10 2010 backups: 14 12 18 13 Other teams: 6 8 11 4 Out of NFL: 15 9 5 5