History Lesson: Chicago Bears First-Round Draft Picks Since 2000

Let's take a look back at how the Bears have fared in the first round over the last 20-plus years.

The Chicago Bears currently hold the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. All signs point to Ryan Poles trading the pick before April 27 rolls around.

Only twice (1941, 1947) in franchise history has the team held the first pick in the NFL Draft. On both occasions, they've selected a running back. Tom Harmon went first overall in 1941 and Bob Fenimore followed suit in 1947.

Regardless of whether the team trades back from No. 1 or not, they're pretty much guaranteed a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. That begs the question: how have the Bears fared with past first-round picks?

Let's take a look back at the recent history of the team's first-rounders.

2000-2010

• 2000: 9th Overall
• Player: Brian Urlacher
• Position: Linebacker
• College: New Mexico
• Bears Career: 13 Seasons (2000-2012)
• Playing Career: 13 Seasons (2000-2012)
• Notes: 2018 Hall of Fame

• 2001: 8th Overall
• Player: David Terrell
• Position: Wide Receiver
• College: Michigan
• Bears Career: 4 Seasons (2001-2004)
• Playing Career: 5 Seasons (2001-2005)

• 2002: 29th Overall
• Player: Marc Colombo
• Position: Offensive Tackle
• College: Boston College
• Bears Career: 3 Seasons (2002-2005)
• Playing Career: 10 Seasons (2002-2011)

• 2003: 14th Overall (via trade w/Patriots)
• Player: Michael Haynes
• Position: Defensive End
• College: Penn State
• Bears Career: 3 Seasons (2003-2005)
• Playing Career: 3 Seasons (2003-2005)

• 2003: 22nd Overall (via trade w/Jets)
• Player: Rex Grossman
• Position: Quarterback
• College: Florida
• Bears Career: 6 Seasons (2003-2008)
• Playing Career: 9 Seasons (2003-2011)

• 2004: 14th Overall
• Player: Tommie Harris
• Position: Defensive Tackle
• College: Oklahoma
• Bears Career: 7 Seasons (2004-2010)
• Playing Career: 8 Seasons (2004-2011)

• 2005: 4th Overall
• Player: Cedric Benson
• Position: Running Back
• College: Texas
• Bears Career: 3 Seasons (2005-2007)
• Playing Career: 8 Seasons (2005-2012)

• 2006: No Pick
• Player: N/A
• Position: N/A
• College: N/A
• Bears Career: N/A
• Playing Career: N/A

• 2007: 31st Overall
• Player: Greg Olsen
• Position: Tight End
• College: Miami
• Bears Career: 4 Seasons (2007-2010)
• Playing Career: 14 Seasons (2007-2020)

• 2008: 14th Overall
• Player: Chris Williams
• Position: Offensive Tackle
• College: Vanderbilt
• Bears Career: 5 Seasons (2008-2012)
• Playing Career: 7 Seasons (2008-2014)

• 2009: No Pick
• Player: N/A
• Position: N/A
• College: N/A
• Bears Career: N/A
• Playing Career: N/A

• 2010: No Pick
• Player: N/A
• Position: N/A
• College: N/A
• Bears Career: N/A
• Playing Career: N/A

2011-2020

• 2011: 29th Overall
• Player: Gabe Carimi
• Position: Offensive Tackle
• College: Wisconsin
• Bears Career: 2 Seasons (2011-2012)
• Playing Career: 4 Seasons (2011-2014)

• 2012: 19th Overall
• Player: Shea McClellin
• Position: Defensive End
• College: Boise State
• Bears Career: 4 Seasons (2012-2015)
• Playing Career: 5 Seasons (2012-2016)

• 2013: 20th Overall
• Player: Kyle Long
• Position: Offensive Guard
• College: Oregon
• Bears Career: 7 Seasons (2013-2019)
• Playing Career: 7 Seasons (2013-2019)

• 2014: 14th Overall
• Player: Kyle Fuller
• Position: Cornerback
• Bears Career: 7 Seasons (2014-2020)
• Playing Career: 9 Seasons (2014-2022)

• 2015: 7th Overall
• Player: Kevin White
• Position: Wide Receiver
• College: West Virginia
• Bears Career: 4 Seasons (2015-2018)
• Playing Career: 7 Seasons (2015-2018, 2020-2022)

• 2016: 9th Overall (via trade w/Buccaneers)
• Player: Leonard Floyd
• Position: Outside Linebacker
• College: Georgia
• Bears Career: 4 Seasons (2016-2019)
• Playing Career: 7 Seasons (2016-current)

• 2017: 2nd Overall (via trade w/49ers)
• Player: Mitchell Trubisky
• Position: Quarterback
• College: North Carolina
• Bears Career: 4 Seasons (2017-2020)
• Playing Career: 6 Seasons (2017-current)

• 2018: 8th Overall
• Player: Roquan Smith
• Position: Inside Linebacker
• College: Georgia
• Bears Career: 5 Seasons (2018-2022)
• Playing Career: 5 Seasons (2018-current)

• 2019: No Pick
• Player: N/A
• Position: N/A
• College: N/A
• Bears Career: N/A
• Playing Career: N/A

• 2020: No Pick
• Player: N/A
• Position: N/A
• College: N/A
• Bears Career: N/A
• Playing Career: N/A

2021-2022

• 2021: 11th Overall (via trade w/Giants)
• Player: Justin Fields
• Position: Quarterback
• College: Ohio State
• Bears Career: 2 Seasons (2021-current)
• Playing Career: 2 Seasons (2021-current)

• 2022: No Pick
• Player: N/A
• Position: N/A
• College: N/A
• Bears Career: N/A
• Playing Career: N/A

Trends

Over the past 23 years, the Chicago Bears have had 18 first-round picks — six years without a selection and one year with multiple.

Of the 18 selections in the first round, here's a breakdown by position:

• QB: 3 (16.7%)
• Grossman (2003)
• Trubisky (2017)
• Fields (2021)
• OT: 3 (16.7%)
• Colombo (2002)
• Williams (2008)
• Carimi (2011)
• WR: 2 (11.1%)
• Terrell (2001)
• White (2015)
• DE: 2 (11.1%)
• Haynes (2003)
• McClellin (2012)
• ILB: 2 (11.1%)
• Urlacher (2000)
• Smith (2018)
• CB: 1 (5.5%)
• Fuller (2014)
• DT: 1 (5.5%)
• Harris (2004)
• OG: 1 (5.5%)
• Long (2013)
• OLB: 1 (5.5%)
• Floyd (2016)
• RB: 1 (5.5%)
• Benson (2005)
• TE: 1 (5.5%)
• Olsen (2007)

Now, here is a look at the general managers responsible for the first-round picks:

• Mark Hatley (2000): 1 (5.5%)
• Urlacher
• Jerry Angelo (2001-2011): 9 (50.0%)
• Terrell
• Colombo
• Haynes
• Grossman
• Harris
• Benson
• Olsen
• Williams
• Carimi
• Phil Emery (2012-2014): 3 (16.7%)
• McClellin
• Long
• Fuller
• Ryan Pace (2015-2021): 5 (27.8%)
• White
• Floyd
• Trubisky
• Smith
• Fields

Lastly, a breakdown of the first-rounders by pick:

• 2nd: 1 (5.5%)
• 4th: 1 (5.5%)
• 7th: 1 (5.5%)
• 8th: 2 (11.1%)
• 9th: 2 (11.1%)
• 11th: 1 (5.5%)
• 14th: 4 (22.2%)
• 19th: 1 (5.5%)
• 20th: 1 (5.5%)
• 22nd: 1 (5.5%)
• 29th: 2 (11.1%)
• 31st: 1 (5.5%)