Chicago Bears 2018 draft is earning widespread praise from media everywhere. It’s felt that GM Ryan Pace may have conducted his best seven-round run to date. He filled almost every immediate need and didn’t make any “reach” picks. In prior drafts, Pace had a reputation for going big on physical talent but not so much proven production. This time around it was the complete opposite.
Most of the hype surrounds two picks in particular. The first of course is their top overall selection, Georgia linebacker Roquan Smith. While not playing what many consider a premium position, the general consensus is the Bears got a stud and leader to man the middle of their front seven for the next decade.
The other is wide receiver, Anthony Miller. An ultra-productive phenom from Memphis, he’s drawn mouthwatering comparisons to names like Antonio Brown, Steve Smith and Percy Harvin. His quickness, athleticism, route running and sheer desire are hard to miss. He could end up being one of the best picks the Bears have ever had at that position.
Yet some top execs around the league think another pick is being widely overlooked.
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Biggest steal of the Chicago Bears 2018 draft was James Daniels
Mike Sando of ESPN asked around the league regarding the drafts each others’ teams had. A number of GMs and executives liked what the Bears did, but their biggest praise wasn’t reserved for Smith or Miller. Instead, they took greater notice of second round pick James Daniels, the center from Iowa whom they feel went way later than he should’ve.
“Beyond the top pick, multiple evaluators said they preferred second-round Bears center James Daniels to the centers Detroit and Cincinnati selected in the first round, Frank Ragnow and Billy Price.”
Anytime the Bears are viewed to have made a better pick than Detroit, it’s a good day. Yet for their second round choice to be rated better than the Lions’ first rounder? That’s a slice of cake with sprinkles on top. Indeed it was a genuine surprise Daniels fell as far as he did. Todd McShay had him ranked as the 18th best prospect in the draft. For the Bears to get him at #39. That’s a great value.
Daniels is expected to start right away. It’s only a matter of where. Some feel he’s destined to play center but the Bears seem reluctant to move Cody Whitehair out of that spot. At least for the time being. Until then Daniels will work at left guard, something he did during his run at Iowa. So it’s not anything new to him.
