4) 2015 draft class
Key hits – DT Eddie Goldman, S Adrian Amos
Key misses – WR Kevin White, C Hroniss Grasu, RB Jeremy Langford
Pace tripped and fell out of the gates during his first draft when he selected wide receiver Kevin White with the seventh-overall pick. The 6′ 3″, 216-lb specimen who ran a 4.35 40-yard dash was supposed to take over for the recently-traded Brandon Marshall. Instead, the former West Virginia standout suffered a slew of injuries during his Bears career, playing in just five games from 2015-17. When he finally got healthy in 2018, White had been passed over and the writing was on the wall.
Their third-round pick center Hroniss Grasu was an undersized lineman who’s future as the team’s center disappeared when he broke his leg in the preseason in 2016. Running back Jeremy Langford, the team’s fourth-round pick, showed he may have been the guy to take the torch from veteran running back Matt Forte, but was ultimately passed up in Year 2 by rookie running back Jordan Howard. Pace’s final pick, offensive tackle Tayo Fabuluje, lasted just one season as well. This class had misses, but in between them were gems that would become borderline pro-bowl players.
Nose tackle Eddie Goldman, selected in the second round, has become one of the most crucial pieces on a dominant Bears defense. He’s one of the key run stoppers on the defensive line and is an excellent compliment to defensive tackle Akiem Hicks. Safety Adrian Amos, picked in the fifth-round, developed into an effective defensive back and found success playing with safety Eddie Jackson. Amos signed a lucrative deal with the Green Bay Packers in 2019, but nonetheless, he was a great pick in the later rounds.
After stumbling with White, Pace found his footing with Goldman and Amos. But four misses compared with just two hits keeps this class in fourth place.
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