The Chicago Bears had hoped Kevin White would become a long-term fixture for their offense. He was the first pick ever made by GM Ryan Pace. A 6’3 freak athlete with blazing 4.35 speed. If they could just improve him as a route runner, there was no telling how good the West Virginia product might be. Most draft experts didn’t even flinch when the Bears grabbed him with the 7th pick in 2015.
The troubles didn’t take long in following. Before training camp even began that first year, White was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his shin. An injury that would require season-ending surgery. It was a tough setback but people remained optimistic that he’d get things going in 2016. After a slow start, White began to show signs of his ability. He made a highlight-reel catch in Dallas and was gashing the Lions the next week.
Then an awkward tackle saw him fracture the tibia in his opposite leg. Once again he was done for the year. At that point, fans were starting to wonder if his body just couldn’t handle the physicality. Their answer wasn’t long in coming. On opening day against Atlanta in 2017, a freak hit saw him fracture his shoulder blade. Once again he was done for the season. The team grew tired of waiting for him.
He was relegated to the back end of the depth chart in 2018 and rarely played. His lone notable moment was catching a hail mary from Mitch Trubisky that almost went for a touchdown to force overtime against New England. When the season ended, White was allowed to hit free agency. While disappointed, people sighed with relief. They didn’t have to worry about him hurting the team anymore.
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Turns out they were wrong.
Kevin White exit from Arizona costs Bears a comp pick
After leaving Chicago, White quickly signed on with the Arizona Cardinals. This was a good thing because it helped the Bears to gather the necessary resources for acquiring a compensatory draft pick for 2020. All White had to do was make the final roster, even if it was as a deep reserve. Sadly, as has become the case too often, he couldn’t deliver.
Health problems persisted throughout the summer including a nagging hamstring problem. With plenty of other receivers making their marks in the meantime, Arizona finally decided there was no longer a point in keeping him around.
Hard as that is for the man himself, it has a wider impact on his former team. With his release, the Bears no longer have the formula necessary to acquire that 4th round comp pick for next year since they now sit at four free agents lost and four signed for 2019.
If things stay as they are now, the Bears will go into 2020 with seven picks. That includes no 1st, 3rd, or 4th rounders. They will have two 2nd rounders which helps but it creates a wide gulf between the earlier rounds and the later ones, during which the team could miss out on a lot of potential talent. Especially given Pace’s track record in that area of the draft (see Eddie Jackson and Tarik Cohen).
This one hurts.
