Bears pick Urlacher in first round
The Bears selected linebacker Brian Urlacher of New Mexico as the No. 9 overall pick Saturday in the NFL Draft. With the No. 39 pick overall, the Bears drafted DB Mike Brown of Nebraska. In the third round, the Bears used the No. 69 pick to grab Georgia Tech WR Dez White. With the No. 87 pick, the Bears selected Wake Forest LB Dustin Lyman. To follow the Bears' 2000 draft card, go to Chicago's team page on ESPN.com's Draft Central. Urlacher is the second linebacker to be selected in the 2000 draft.
ESPN.com experts break down the draft
Tom Donahoe on the Bears' first-day performance:
"The Bears have continued to upgrade their defense with their free-agent acquisitions and their first two draft picks. The selection of Brian Urlacher upgrades the athleticism of their defense and gives them a playmaker. Safety Mike Brown provides them with excellent football instincts and leadership from the safety position. In the third round, the Bears were able to select WR Dez White from Georgia Tech, who many draft experts had projected in the first round. Dez has outstanding speed and kickoff returnability and will provide quarterback Jim Miller and Cade McNown with another outstanding young target."
Tom Donohoe on first-round pick Brian Urlacher:
"Brian is maybe the most interesting player in this year's draft. He has exceptional athletic ability for his size and has played safety, linebacker, fullback, tight end and returned punts. Urlacher will bring the Steelers great versatility, although they might have to show some patience with him until he gets locked in to his pro position. Still, Brian is another addition to the outstanding offseason acquistions the Bears have made to improve their defense. This is one of the up-and-coming teams in the NFL."
Tom Donahoe on Mike Brown:
"One of the Bears major objectives in the offseason in the draft was to upgrade their defense. Most of the moves that they have made in the offseason have been designed to do that. Mike Brown gives them an outstanding prospect at the safety position. The Nebraska defensive coaches felt that Brown was the smartest football player they had ever coached. He is on the shorter side for a safety, but he makes up for this with outstanding instincts and tackling ability. The Bears probably felt that he fit better than some of the other safeties." |
