2016 Rookie Class Assessment..............

Nice audio review by WCG's Lester Wilfong Jr.  Your comments are welcome.

By: Bryan Perez | 25 minutes ago

The Bears will enjoy some much needed rest and relaxation during their bye in Week 9 after an injury-riddled first eight games resulted in an disappointing 2-6 record.

With half of the season officially in the books, it’s time to take a look at how the Bears’ 2016 rookie class has performed so far. Ryan Pace added nine new faces to the roster via last April’s draft, several of which have started and produced at a high level in the first two months of the season.

Best in Class: Cody Whitehair
Grade: A

The Bears’ second-round pick has turned out to be the best of the bunch so far. After a decorated college career at tackle, Whitehair made the move to guard in training camp before an unfortunate injury to Hroniss Grasu created a need at center, which Whitehair has filled at a high level through eight games. Pro Football Focus has the former Kansas State standout graded as the second-best lineman on the Bears this season with an 80.2.


Leonard Floyd
Grade: C+

Chicago’s first-round pick was off to a slow start and teetered on receiving a failing grade if it wasn’t for his strong performances against two NFC North rivals in the Packers and Vikings. After tallying just a half-sack through the first six weeks of the season (he missed a couple of games due to injury), Floyd has registered three sacks in the last two games, including a strip-sack of Aaron Rodgers that he recovered for a touchdown in Week 7.

Floyd is starting to flash the pass-rushing upside that made the Bears move up in the first round to get him. He’s a player on the rise and could be in line for a huge second half of the season.


Jonathan Bullard
Grade: C

Bullard has played only 141 snaps so far this season and has struggled to make much of an impact. He’s had some moments where he flashed his quick-twitch, penetrating style of play, but he’s struggled to adjust to the power of the NFL in the early part of his rookie season. With Mitch Unrein underwhelming as a starter, Bullard’s reps should increase as the season wears on. He’s had 47 snaps over the last two weeks, the most he’s received in any two-game stretch this year.


Nick Kwiatkoski (Linebacker)
Grade: C+

Kwiatkoski should really be an incomplete, but his 79 snaps represent the most of any reserve inside linebacker behind starters Jerrell Freeman and Danny Trevathan. The former West Virginia Mountaineer has been credited with two forced fumbles this season, and he brings a hard-hitting and instinctual style of play to the middle of the defense. He has a bright future and will compete for more snaps in the coming seasons.


Deon Bush
Grade: F

The most disappointing rookie from the 2016 draft class has been Bush, the former Miami Hurricane who was picked in the fourth round. He began his first training camp in a competition for starter’s reps, but has experienced a downward slide ever since. Bush has played only one snap on defense through eight games and has been inactive for most of his rookie season so far.


Deiondre’ Hall
Grade: B-

Aside from an unfortunate ankle injury that has kept Hall out for the last month, the rookie corner from Northern Iowa has been one of the better cover guys on the field when he’s had the opportunity to play. His year-to-date grade of 73.5 from Pro Football Focus (albeit in only 52 snaps) is the second-best on the team, and even though his playing time has been limited, his talent jumps off the screen. Hall will be a key to the secondary in the second half of the season once he gets back to full health.


Jordan Howard
Grade: A-

From a pure value standpoint, Howard might end up being the best of the bunch from the Bears’ 2016 NFL draft. After falling to the fifth round, the former Indiana Hoosier has worked his way up the Bears’ depth chart and is now the unquestioned starter in the backfield. He capped off the first half of the season with over 200 yards of offense in Week 8 against the Vikings, the youngest player in NFL history to accomplish such a feat. He’s going to be the bell cow for the offense moving forward and looks like the next in line of supremely talented and productive Bears’ running backs.


DeAndre Houston-Carson
Grade: Incomplete

The sixth-round pick from William & Mary hasn’t played enough to earn a grade yet, registering only eight snaps so far in his rookie season. He was expected to be a depth safety and special teams contributor.


Daniel Braverman
Grade: D

After starring in training camp, Braverman failed to make an impact in the preseason and has been relegated to the practice squad through the first two months of the year. Braverman was expected to contribute, at the very least, in the return game this season, but his inability to leapfrog Deonte Thompson on the active roster has been disappointing. With eight games to play, Braverman’s time to make some plays could still be coming.