When last we visited the draft results of our esteemed general manager, Jerry Angelo, the top five picks seemed fairly unquestioned. But here at Windy City Gridiron, we aren't all about "unquestioned" (unless it's about our unquestioned greatness as the best Bears blog on the Internet). So to spice it up, we will continue to delve deeper into the ranking of Angelo's drafts. The faint of heart need not apply. The quick recap of last time's rankings and picks six through ten after the jump.
In case you missed last week's wade into the shallow end, you can find it here. Last week's top five were...
1) LB Lance Briggs (2003)
2) CB/WR/KR/PR Devin Hester (2006)
3) DE Alex Brown (2002)
4) CB Charles Tillman (2003)
5) RB Matt Forte (2008)
I may have tipped off six through ten with last week's Honorable Mentions, but all rankings are subject to change until actually posted here. With that being said... Onward!
6) DT Tommie Harris (2004): Let's not let the man's recent history stain his earlier career. Tommie made three consecutive Pro Bowls from 2005 to 2007, collecting sixteen sacks, including eight in the 2007 season, and forcing four fumbles in that span. He was the disruptive 3-tech the cover two requires, and did his job well. But injuries derailed his career, and he was never the same since.
7) CB Nathan Vasher (2004): The Interceptor. As a fourth-round pick in the 2004 draft, Vasher carved out his nickname with five interceptions in his rookie season and following that with an eight interception Pro Bowl year. Each of those years saw one interception returned for a touchdown, and he also forced two fumbles in 2005. He also provided one of the best highlights of the 2005 season against San Francisco, returning a long (some might say ill-advised, given the wind?) field goal miss 108 yards for a touchdown, a feat later matched in 2006 by Devin Hester.
8) S Chris Harris (2005): Drafted in 2005 in the sixth round and installed into the starting role alongside Mike Brown as a rookie, Harris has simply produced. Having been traded after his second year to Carolina for a fifth-round pick, the Bears traded LB Jamar Williams to Carolina to take back Harris to help solidify the safety position and help bring along rookie Major Wright. In his career, Harris has fifteen interceptions, thirty-four passes deflected and twelve forced fumbles.
9) WR Johnny Knox (2009): The Knox pick was the throw-in for the deal that netted the Bears QB Jay Cutler, but in his two years here, Knox has played like anything but a throw-in. He nearly recorded his first thousand-yard season in 2010. Three things currently prevent him from rising any higher on this list - his limited experience, his lack of polish and his unwillingness to jump for a ball.
10) QB Kyle Orton (2005): The new Rodney Dangerfield of the NFL. Pressed into duty after Rex Grossman's preseason injury and Chad Hutchinson being, well, Chad Hutchinson, Orton struggled as a passer in his rookie season. In his fourth year, after Grossman and Brian Griese started most of 2007, Orton won the starter's job and in fifteen starts, nearly had a three-thousand yard season. After being traded to Denver in the Jay Cutler deal, he had his best season as a pro, amassing 3,802 yards with a 62.1 completion percentage and 21 TDs to 12 INTs. This season, he was continuing to build on that year (in 13 games, 3,653 yards, 20 TDs and 9 INTs) before being inexplicably replaced by first-round pick Tim Tebow.
Sunday, we wrap up the top fifteen with picks eleven through fifteen. Agree or disagree with these rankings? Tell us what you think!