(Audacy) As they continue their rebuild, they Bears invested around young quarterback Justin Fields by selecting Tennessee offensive tackle Darnell Wright at No. 10 overall in the NFL Draft on Thursday evening.
In doing so, Chicago passed on the chance to select possibly the best player in the draft in Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter. The defending NFC champion Eagles selected Carter at No. 9 after moving up one slot in a trade with the Bears.
Was it the right move by Chicago? Danny Parkins and Andrew Fillipponi of the Audacy Original Podcast “1st & Pod” debated that, with Parkins expressing his belief that the decision will come back to haunt the Bears.
“I don’t understand why they did that," Parkins said (1:55 in the player above). "I mean I know what the argument is. The argument is they’re not in a position like the Eagles are to nurture and develop Jalen Carter. Fletcher Cox is there. His old teammate Jordan Davis is there. And the Bears have no defensive line talent and are a very young team. But you’ve got Matt Eberflus, a defensive head coach, who says that a three-technique tackle is the whole key to his defense, and arguably the most talented player in the draft is there at nine – at that position.
“I don’t know how you pass on it. I was furious. But Darnell Wright, at least he protects Justin Fields also. It’s an investment in your franchise quarterback, so I don’t think you can hate it, but I think that Jalen Carter’s going to haunt the Bears.”
Fillipponi was fully prepared to have his co-host excited rather than furious to start the show.
“He’s a guy that even with all the red flags, when he was there at nine, I’m like, ‘Oh my God, I can’t wait to start the podcast,' with maybe the Bears trading down and still getting the player that maybe they would’ve been forced to take if they went and stuck at that pick back in January,” he said.
Many NFL teams had questions about Carter off the field. Carter pleaded no contest to misdemeanor reckless driving and racing charges in March in connection with a fatal crash. He also had a poor showing at his pro day later in March, showing up nine pounds heavier and failing to finish a handful of drills.
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