1) 2016 draft class

Key hits – C Cody Whitehair, LB Nick Kwiatkoski, RB Jordan Howard

Key misses – LB Leonard Floyd, DE Jonathan Bullard, CB Deiondre’ Hall

The 2016 draft class is a good reminder that the more picks you have, the more hits you can have. It’s not the sexiest group of players and there aren’t any All-Pros like the 2017 draft, but it produced a number of solid starters and Pro-Bowlers. In fact, eight out of nine players who were drafted are still on an NFL roster as of April 22.  The only player not on a roster is wide receiver Daniel Braverman, who last played for the XFL’s St. Louis Battlehawks.

This draft begins with linebacker Leonard Floyd and while he ultimately didn’t pan out as the dynamic pass rusher the Bears envisioned, he was still a decent player who excelled in certain situations. By all accounts, he is considered a bust, but he’s far from the worst miss Pace has had in the first round. The other two players who haven’t panned out are defensive end Jonathan Bullard and cornerback Deiondre Hall, both of whom have found opportunities with other teams.

But the Bears actually hit on five picks in this draft, beginning with second-round selection center Cody Whitehair. The former Kansas State Wildcat has become the anchor on the Bears offensive line. He hasn’t missed a game in his four-year career and has shown versatility by playing multiple positions. Their fourth-round picks of linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski and safety Deon Bush have turned into valuable contributors. Kwiatkoski had a breakout year last season, turning that production into a hefty payday with the Las Vegas Raiders. Bush has become a dependable special-teams player who has the chance to become a starter opposite of Jackson this season.

The other star of the 2016 class is running back Jordan Howard, selected in the sixth round. The former Hoosier quickly emerged as the Bears lead back and broke records held by Walter Payton. The bruising back was ultimately shipped out to Philadelphia with one year remaining on his deal following the 2018 season, but make no mistake, he was one of Pace’s best picks.

They may lack some star power but it’s a solid group from top to bottom and deserves to be recognized as Pace’s best draft class.

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