Nightmare Scenario Players For Chicago Bears At 10th Overall

Taking risks is a natural part of the NFL draft. There is no such thing as building a great team without a handful of calculated gambles. The Chicago Bears have done it before. They took Jim McMahon in 1982 despite being half blind and then William Perry in 1985 despite conditioning concerns. In 2000, they gambled on a safety from New Mexico named Brian Urlacher with plans to move him to linebacker. When the risks pan out, they can change the course of a franchise. However, they can also torpedo any momentum you may have had.

That begs the question. With another top-10 pick in the upcoming draft, the Bears have a chance to build on a strong foundation with another high-end talent. Nobody is sure who they will take. Perhaps a good way to determine this is by looking at what the nightmare scenarios could be. Who has the highest probability of blowing up in their faces if selected? Here are three names to fear.

The Chicago Bears can't afford to take risks on these guys.

Shemar Stewart (DE, Texas A&M)

Every year, a player takes full advantage of the pre-draft workout circuit to get their name out there. Stewart is unequivocally that guy. He blew up the scouting combine last month. At 6'5, 267 lbs, he ran a 4.59 in the 40 with a 40-inch vertical jump. Players of that size with that athleticism are rare. So why the concern? Well, it's fair to wonder why all of that incredible ability didn't translate to production. Stewart had only 4.5 sacks in three seasons with the Aggies. Some have tried to defend him, stating the A&M defensive scheme didn't give enough opportunities. The problem is his less talented teammate, Nic Scourton, had 15 sacks over the past two seasons. Remember the quote from Draft Day? "Looks like Tarzan. Plays like Jane." That applies here.

Josh Simmons (OT, Ohio State)

A left tackle is obviously something the Chicago Bears would love to have. Most believe Simmons is the most naturally equipped to play that position in the entire draft. He has the size, length, athleticism, and instincts. Unfortunately, it isn't that simple. Simmons ruptured his patella tendon last season for Ohio State. While he insists his recovery is ahead of schedule, the Bears have an ugly track record drafting players with a background of health issues. Chris Williams and Teven Jenkins come to mind. Does anybody trust Simmons will avoid such issues if they draft him? That doesn't seem likely.

Kenneth Grant (DT, Michigan)

Many people look at Grant and see a ready-made nose tackle for the NFL due to his great athleticism and size. The problem is he doesn't play like one. He often struggles to anchor in the run game. On top of that, while not bad, his upside as an interior pass rusher isn't elite either. He is one of those cases where he's good at multiple things but doesn't possess a superpower. Yes, the Bears need to think about an eventual replacement for Andrew Billings on the defensive line. Taking Grant at #10 overall would be the worst possible time to do it. He has far too many holes in his game to justify it, regardless of his pure physical prowess.