Bears Blitz

Published by Jake Perper on April 26, 2009
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears

The Bears added five players during the rounds four through seven.

Starting With The Fourth Round, at No. 105, Henry Melton, DE.

Melton was arrested and charged with DUI while at Texas, but last season was his first full season as a defensive end. He spent his freshman year as a FB, and it took him some time to learn a new position.

Melton is said to be a project, but at 6′ 3″, 270 lbs, with a 4.65 40 yard dash, he has some potential. Plus Mark Anderson, Adewale Ogunleye, and Israel Idonije are all free agents come the end of next season.

My Rating: C+

The Next Fourth Round Pick Was 119th, Where I Think the Bears Found a Gem.

D.J. Moore from Vanderbilt is a great addition to the cornerback position. The Bears now have enough cornerback depth, where they should feel comfortable.

Moore is considered small at 5′ 9″, 185 lbs, but he has recorded 12 interceptions over the last two seasons at Vandy and was nominated for All-American Honors by Sports Illustrated.

I love this pick for the Bears—he’s athletic, fast, and has great hands. He was ranked sixth out of his position by Scout.com. I think for him to be available in the fourth round is ridiculous.

My Grade: B+

Now the Fifth Round, Where the Bears Picked up Another Receiver with the 140th Pick.

They picked up Albiene Christian star receiver, Johnny Knox. This kid ran the third fastest 40 yard dash with a 4.34. He is 5′ 11″, 180 lbs and broke almost all of Albiene Christian’s receiving records.

Knox started 33 of the 38 games he played at the Division II Albiene Christian, recording 163 receptions for 3,250 yards and 43 touchdowns.

The problem with Knox is he spent two seasons at a junior college before transferring to this Division II school. Knox was ranked 31st at his position by Scout.com. He has a shot at getting some playing time, considering who the Bears have at that position.

My Grade: B-

The Other Pick in the Fifth Round (154th) for the Bears, Was a Linebacker by the Name of Marcus Freeman.

Freeman, from Ohio State, spent time banged up last season with an injured ankle, but had 109 tackles in his junior season. He is 6′ 1″, 235 lbs and a guy who can compete for a spot on special teams.

He might even get in the competition with Hunter Hillenmeyer and Nick Roach, we will have to see. This is an okay pick, I would have rather seen them take an offensive lineman or a safety though.

My Grade: C-

With the Bears Only Sixth Round Pick (190th), They Selected a Safety by the Name Of Al Afalava.

This kid is a hard hitter, who played strong safety in college, but could be converted to free safety with the Bears.

He reminds me a lot of former Bear Mike Brown. At 5′ 11″, 210 lbs, he ran a 4.47 40 yard dash at Oregon State’s Pro Day. The Bears brought Afalava in for a pre-draft visit.

Afalava played in 47 games, recording 167 tackles and three interceptions in four seasons at Oregon State. He has a lot of potential, though he had some off-the-field concerns following a DUI hit-and-run incident.

Greg Gabriel, the Bears director of college scouting said this about his incident and his potential: “He’s gone through the court system, checked into everything, did our research. Everything came back good. We’re very comfortable with the situation.”

Gabriel expects Afalava to start at strong safety but said he is capable of playing free safety.

My Grade: C