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So Womens Stephen Denmark Jersey , now we go through the exercise of giving out way too early "grades" on players that have never touched an NFL field!" />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesHorizontal - WhiteWindy City GridironWindy City Gridiron - Being who you thought we were since 2005!Log In or Sign UpLog InSign UpFanpostsFanshotsSectionsBearsOddsAboutMastheadCommunity GuidelinesStubHubMoreAll 322 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Latest NewsThe Bears DenNotesXs and OsSuperfansFiled under:NFL DraftLatest NewsNewsChicago Bears: Way too early 2019 NFL Draft gradesNew,201commentsThe 2019 NFL draft is over and the priority undrafted free agent period has cooled down. So, now we go through the exercise of giving out way too early “grades” on players that have never touched an NFL field!CDTShareTweetShareShareChicago Bears: Way too early 2019 NFL Draft gradesReese Strickland-USA TODAY SportsAfter 11 months of grueling preparation for most teams and draft analysts, the three-day event that is the NFL draft has officially come and gone. It was a fast and furious weekend in the football world, even if the Bears didn’t make their first selection until late Friday evening.In the Ryan Pace era, many weren’t used to not seeing the Chicago Bears make a first or second round selection. But because of the pair of trades that gave them Khalil Mack and Anthony Miller, they found themselves playing the waiting game more than most teams.“Grading” this draft for the Bears was a little more difficult than usual. Yes, they only made five picks and none before the middle of the third round, but there are multiple factors to consider here.The trades and production of both Mack and Miller.The quality of players they were still able to find with limited picks.Pace absolutely killed the undrafted free agent portion of this exercise.With this in mind, I’m going to try and fairly evaluate what they did this weekend, without focusing too much on what they did this past season to put themselves in the position they were.(#73) Third Round: RB David Montgomery (Iowa State)Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports*Bears traded #87, #162 and a 2020 fourth rounder to Patriots for #73 and #205After just two running backs going in the first two rounds of the draft, a run started in the third round and it was apparent that Pace felt the need to trade up to land his guy. A few picks before Montgomery, the Rams shocked quite a few people and took Darrell Henderson (Memphis), which left just Montgomery and Damien Harris as the only top-tier running backs left on the board.Now, I’m not a big fan of the value Pace gave up to move 15 picks, but at least he kept both of his second rounders for 2020. As far as Montgomery goes, I had him graded as my fourth running back and most major publications had him graded as a late second or early third round pick. So in terms of the value of the player, it was a good pick. In terms of fit, he’s also a very good pick. Most will focus on straight line speed, but ignore the fact that he’s well-rounded. He can catch, he can run inside or outside zone and is a good pass protector. On top of that, he has some of the deadliest cuts coming out of the draft and led the FBS in broken/missed tackles over the past two years.He was also regarded as one of Iowa State’s top leaders and was called a “culture changer” once head coach Matt Campbell took over the program. He’s exactly the type of pick that Pace loves to make and one that should pay off from Day 1.Montgomery Grade: B+(#126) Fourth Round: WR Riley Ridley (Georgia)John David Mercer-USA TODAY SportsStarting off Day 3, it appeared that there would be maximum value at the defensive back position. Yet, as the picks started to fly, that depth started to dissipate and Pace found himself in yet another situation where he took the best player available on his board. That happened to be Ridley, who was projected as a second round pick by most publications.Riley is the brother of Calvin Ridley Stephen Denmark Chicago Bears Jerseys , who was the Atlanta Falcon’s first round pick in 2018. Calvin had a break out year and some believe that Riley possess a similar skill set and ceiling. The biggest difference between the two? Riley’s production was not nearly as prolific at Georgia as his older brother’s was at Alabama.The 21-year-old fits the profile of a player with all the tools to be successful at the NFL level, yet has not come close to reaching his full potential. That can be viewed as a good or bad thing, but in the case of the Bears, they saw opportunity. The main reason to be optimistic? Ridley’s route running is something that will help him transition much easier.With any mid-round pick, there’s always going to be a sense of risk, but the fact that Pace was able to land Ridley at this point in the draft should only mean good things for the Bears down the road.Ridley Grade: A(#205) Sixth Round: CB Duke Shelley (Kansas State)Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY SportsAdmittedly so, this was the first pick that I caught myself asking “Who?”. This is coming from an Oklahoma Sooners fan, who watches the Big 12 every weekend. Then I remembered that I rarely focus on defense because it is indeed the Big 12.So I had to turn back to the tape to get a better idea of exactly who the Bears got and I have to say, I’m impressed. Shelley is smaller (5’9, 181 pounds) and as Pace confirmed in their concluding presser, he will play in the slot as a nickel back. He’s an aggressive player that isn’t afraid to press off the line of scrimmage and most importantly, he’s a hard hitter.He may take some time to develop, but it seems as if defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano has a “type” at defensive back and that’s feistiness. Expect Shelley to develop into a bigger role as time goes on.Shelly Grade: B-(#222) Seventh Round: Kerrith Whyte (Florida Atlantic)Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY SportsHeading into Day 3, I thought running back was either a position they’d address again in the late rounds or use some of their resources to pull in a top priority undrafted free agent. Turns out, the Bears were thinking along the same lines and decided to target another speedster with big play ability in Whyte.Most people are probably aware of Devin Singletary, who was the FAU’s leading rushing and primary back. But Whyte was the guy that made a lot happen in a lesser capacity due to his speed. He ran a sub 4.4 time at his Pro Day after being snubbed for the combine and has big time ability as both a part-time runner and pass catcher.The team already has Tarik Cohen as a play maker and Cordarrelle Patterson is another guy that fits in that role as well. Even so, Whyte could prove to be a valuable pickup and is also an excellent special teamer that can return both kicks and punts. This is one of the more underrate selections in the final few rounds of the draft.Whyte Grade: A(#238) Seventh Round: Stephen Denmark (Valdosta State)It wouldn’t be a Bears draft without Pace going with at least one small school player. This year, it’s a physical freak in Denmark. Honestly, I still have zero clue as to where Valdosta State is, but I do know it’s a Division Two school and one that I wasn’t aware of until earlier today. Even so, Denmark’s testing numbers were off the charts. He’s a converted receiver and just transitioned to cornerback within the past year. He’s a raw player with a lot of physical ability. His height and overall length made him attractive, but he’s going to be a project and one that the Bears will have to be careful protecting. I don’t see a big role in Year 1, but he’s also someone that may not survive waiver claims on the practice squad. His development over the next few months will be very interesting to monitor.Denmark Grade: B-Priority Undrafted Free AgencyI’m not going to get too heavy into this because there are 31 names that have either been signed or are being brought in on a tryout basis for next weekend’s rookie mini-camp.With that being said, I’d like to highlight a few names as to why I truly believe Pace blew the doors off this portion of the draft process.WR Emanuel Hall (Missouri)TE Dax Raymond (Utah State)OL Alex Bars (Notre Dame)How these three players went undrafted is somewhat baffling to me. Now, obviously we see this happen each year, but especially for a player like Hall, I was shocked when he was still on the board heading into Day 3 Chicago Bears Jerseys Stitched , much less into this portion of the process. Hall had many projections in the third round due to his speed and overall ability. Raymond comes from a smaller school and the production wasn’t overly crazy, but he was still someone that he should have had his name called on Saturday, even if it was later in the day. Bars also fits that mold, but I would imagine that Harry Hiestand had a decent amount of pull in bringing him in. This may some hyperbolic, but I truly believe Bars can be Kyle Long’s replacement in a year or two. Health is the key for him, but if healthy, he’s a third or fourth round interior lineman.UDFA Grade: A+Overall GradeAgain, the Bears found themselves without a pick in the first two rounds and that needs to be taken into account. But even so, it’s hard not to like what Pace was able to do with limited resources. In a lot of ways, he took a few ingredients and turned it into damn-near a full draft worth of acceptable and borderline good talent with the help of his undrafted group.Guys like Montgomery and Ridley are going to contribute on Day 1, while others like Whyte will play roles and that’s completely fine. Pace’s track record speaks for itself, especially in the middle rounds and undrafted portion.All in all, I came away pretty impressed and more than satisfied with what they ended up acquiring and for that, I have to give this a good grade.Overall Grade: B The first high school all-star game to be played outside the United States will take place Dec. 22 in Mexico City, three days after many of the players involved will reveal which colleges they will attend.The Pro Football Hall of Fame World Bowl Presented by Xenith will be at Azul Stadium, with players chosen by a selection team of scouts, Hall of Famers and former NFL executives. Rod Woodson, the outstanding defensive back and special teams player who entered the Hall of Fame in 2009 will serve as host."The NCAA had the change in rules with the early signing day and we're using that to our benefit," Woodson says. "The players will be on the campus of Azteca TV and they get to walk a red carpet, pick the hat they are going to wear to show what school they're going to. It will be a big deal and definitely worth going to as a player. It will make history and it will be something they will remember forever."More than 30 All-Americans will show their choices, and CBS Sports Network will televise the proceedings.Woodson recalls that when he signed to go to Purdue, only his parents accompanied him in the high school athletic director's office. Maybe one newspaper covered it.Woodson notes that many of the U.S. players have never been out of the country. They will find that American football, while not on the level of soccer south of the border, is plenty popular."In Mexico, they have been playing American football for more than 50 years, which surprised me to know they are doing it for that long," he says. "They have some really good teams and stadiums around Mexico Stephen Denmark Jersey 2019 , and the same thing in Europe."The biggest difference from Mexican players than the players from the U.S., we have more resources and our athletes have year-round training, where in Mexico and Europe they don't."So we have coaching sessions for the coaches to let them understand football even better and they can give some education to the players for a better product on the field."WARNER'S GIFTHall of Famer Kurt Warner and his wife Brenda, through their First Things First Foundation, have given a Christmas surprise to two single mothers and their children in the Phoenix area.With the help of some local businesses, the foundation is furnishing the new homes recently built and purchased by the two families through the foundation's "Homes for the Holidays" program. The families were surprised by the gifts on Thursday, when they thought they were just going through a walk-through of the houses.The homes were built through the First Things First Foundation, the Habitat for Humanity and others to help working single mothers become homeowners. The foundation says 49 such homes have been built through the program since 2002, 23 in the Phoenix area.JERSEY REPORTHow popular is Saquon Barkley? Well, lots of fans want to look like him.Enough so that Barkley tops the DICK'S Sporting Goods Jersey report for sales.Not only is the New York Giants running back's jersey No. 1 among rookies, he's No. 1 overall. And so are the Giants, despite being 5-8 and on the very fringes of playoff contention.Barkley is trailed by Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz, Browns QB Baker Mayfield, Patriots QB Tom Brady and Bears linebacker Khalil Mack in the overall rankings. Mayfield is the only other rookie in the top 10, while Mack is the only defensive player.Behind Mack on the defensive players' sales list are Denver linebacker Von Miller, Steelers LB T.J. Watt, Browns defensive end Myles Garrett and Panthers LB Luke Kuechly. Watt's older and more established brother, Houston DE J.J. Watt, a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, is sixth.Trailing the Giants in the team rankings are the Steelers, Eagles, Bears and Browns.SUPER BOWL CRUCIAL CATCHIn association with the American Cancer Society and the NFL's Crucial Catch program, one fan and a guest will win tickets to the Super Bowl 鈥?and sit next to an as-yet unnamed celebrity.With a $10 contribution to the society, someone can win two tickets to the game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta; pregame sideline passes; a meet and greet with the halftime show headliner, Maroon 5; two tickets to the NFL Honors award show at which The Associated Press announces its individual award winners; and access to several parties.Plus, round-trip airfare and lodging is included.Fanthropic, a subsidiary of 15 Seconds of Fame (15SOF) Cheap Stephen Denmark Jersey , a social media app that delivers fans videoboard and TV broadcast appearances from live events, is partnering with the ACS and NFL on the project.All proceeds will support the American Cancer Society's Community Health Advocates implementing Nationwide Grants for Empowerment and Equity (CHANGE) program, which promotes health equity and addresses cancer-related disparities. CHANGE grants are funded by the NFL's Crucial Catch partnership with ACS. Funds raised address cancer prevention, early detection, and timely access to follow-up care, helping more people catch cancer early, when it may be easier to treat. These efforts have impacted more than 750,000 people, particularly in high-risk communities."It's such an honor to work with Fanthropic to offer this amazing experience for a fan to attend the Super Bowl, and raise critical funds to help us continue to fight cancer," said Sharon Byers, chief development, marketing and communications officer for the American Cancer Society.Entry forms are available on NFL/CrucialCatch.GRANDMA'S LOVEBrowns guard Joel Bitonio has a campaign manager working on his Pro Bowl election."My grandma really wants me to go," he said. "She thinks I'm a good player and she votes a lot."The fifth-year pro has a good chance of being chosen for his first Pro Bowl. If his grandma, Jan Akin, who lives in Durango, Colorado, and plans to attend the game, has anything to do with it, he's a shoo-in."She votes a lot," said Bitonio. "She hasn't given me an update, but she's retired. She does other things, but she knows how to work the computer and she stuffs the ballot box."AP Pro Football Writers Barry Wilner and Arnie Stapleton, and Sports Writers Bob Baum and Tom Withers contributed.