Chicago Bears
The Bears used the fourth overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft on Texas’ Cedric Benson. The former Heisman candidate ran for over 1,000 yards in each of his four collegiate seasons, rounding out his college career with 1,834 rushing yards in 2004.
Unfortunately, Benson’s success at Texas didn’t translate to the NFL. In three seasons with the Bears, Benson only earned 12 starts and recorded 1,593 rushing yards. Chicago released Benson after three seasons. He went on to have a successful second act to his career with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Chicago only ranks fifth on this list because the team experienced immediate success after passing on Aaron Rodgers. Lovie Smith, who coached the team from 2004 to 2012, led Chicago to the Divisional Round in 2005, the Super Bowl in 2006, and the Conference Championship game in 2011. The Bears also went 10-6 in 2012 but missed the playoffs.
However, the Bears missed out on stellar quarterback play during the mid-2000s playoff runs. Between 2005 and 2008, Brian Griese, Rex Grossman, and Kyle Orton led the team in passing yards. With a more qualified quarterback at the helm, perhaps Chicago defeats Peyton Manning in Super Bowl XLI.
More recently, the Bears made the playoffs with a 12-4 record in 2018 but lost in the Wild Card Round. The team declined Mitchell Trubisky’s fifth-year rookie option, which is telling because the organization traded up to take the North Carolina product with the second overall pick in 2017.
With Trubisky heading for free agency after this coming season, Chicago is trending in the wrong direction. If only they drafted Rodgers in 2005. Then they wouldn’t have to face him twice a year.
