When it comes to first-round draft picks in recent memory, the Chicago Bears just don’t know how to pick them. So perhaps it’s a good thing that they don’t have a first-round pick for the second straight season.
For the Bears, it’s felt like bust after bust, including most recently outside linebacker Leonard Floyd and receiver Kevin White.
The jury is still out on quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, but it’s looking more and more likely that he’ll be another first-round bust the Bears can add to their collection.
While the Bears haven’t fared well in the first round in the last decade, more often than not, there have been some success stories. Among them right guard Kyle Long, cornerback Kyle Fuller and inside linebacker Roquan Smith.
Bleacher Report believes that Fuller has been Chicago’s best first-round draft pick dating back to 2010.
Since being drafted 14th overall in 2014, Fuller has been a starter at corner from nearly day one. With the exception of a 2016 season wiped out by a knee injury, Fuller has started all but two games over five years.
The 28-year-old has 18 career interceptions, including seven in 2018 (which tied for the NFL lead). In each of the past two seasons, the former Virginia Tech standout has been named to the Pro Bowl.
While Fuller’s career got off to a shaky start, he grew into a Pro Bowl cornerback for the Bears and, along with Pro Bowl safety Eddie Jackson, anchors Chicago’s secondary.
Fuller led the Bears in interceptions with seven in 2018 — which also tied for the NFL lead — and he once again led Chicago with three picks in 2019. While it was a dip from the previous year, he’s proven to be a takeaway machine for the Bears in the secondary.
The Bears will be looking to replace his former running mate opposite him at cornerback. With Prince Amukamara’s release as a cap-casualty, Chicago will be looking to bring in someone to pair with Fuller.
That starter might already be on the roster in third-year corner Kevin Toliver or newly-acquired cornerbacks Tre Roberson and Artie Burns. Or, perhaps, Chicago will turn to the NFL Draft for a young player to start Day 1.
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