How the 11th pick has been used by NFL teams in the past
Nothing guarantees that the Bears will get a difference-making player with the 11th pick in the first round of Thursday's draft.
But based on the previous 20 years of draft history, there will be a superstar-in-waiting on the board when the Bears' pick rolls around. It's just a question of whether or not the Bears will correctly identify a player who turns out to be a future Pro Bowler.
Even when the 11th pick in the draft has turned out to be a bust or a disappointment, there were players taken later in the first round who became impact players almost immediately in the NFL. Of course, others were busts or journeymen.
Here's a look at the last 20 players who were drafted with the 11th overall pick and the exceptional players who were taken later in the first round.
2015
Minnesota Vikings: CB Trae Waynes, Michigan State, who had just 1 start, 20 tackles in uneventful rookie season.
Later in the round:
No. 18 Kansas City Chiefs: CB Marcus Peters, a defensive ROY who tied for NFL lead with 8 picks, 2 for TDs.
No. 22 Pittsburgh Steelers: LB Bud Dupree, who flashed early with 4 sacks but faded down the stretch.
2014:
Tennessee Titans: OT Taylor Lewan, Michigan, who had 15 starts at LT last year but future might be at RT.
Later in the round:
12. New York Giants: WR Odell Beckham, who already is a superstar with 2,755 yards, 25 TDs in two years.
13. St. Louis Rams: DT Aaron Donald, a defensive ROY who leads all DT's past 2 years with 20 sacks.
2013:
San Diego Chargers: OT D.J. Fluker, Alabama, who started 43 games at 3 positions (LT, RT, RG).
Later in the round:
20. Chicago Bears: OL Kyle Long, who has three Pro Bowls in three years at two positions (RG, RT).
27. Houston Texans: WR DeAndre Hopkins, who had 111 rec., 1,521 yards, 11 TDs in 2015 and he's just 23.
2012:
Kansas City Chiefs: DT Dontari Poe, Memphis, who is an elite run-stuffer, Day One starter, two-time Pro Bowler.
Later in the round:
12. Philadelphia Eagles: DT Fletcher Cox, a two-time all-pro with 22 sacks looking for new deal.
21. New England Patriots: DE Chandler Jones, who has 30 sacks past three years and was traded to Cardinals in March.
2011:
Houston Texans: DE J.J. Watt, Wisconsin, who has become the NFL's best defensive player with 69 sacks in past four years.
Later in the round:
14. St. Louis Rams: DE Robert Quinn, who had 40 sacks from 2012-14. The two-time Pro Bowler was hurt in 2015.
16. Washington: LB Ryan Kerrigan, who was a Pro Bowler in 2012. Has 47.5 sacks, never missed a start.
2010:
San Francisco 49ers: OT Anthony Davis, Rutgers, who was a fixture at RT but retired in 2015 due to injuries. Could return.
Later in the round:
14. Seattle Seahawks: S Earl Thomas, a five-time Pro Bowler with 21 interceptions.
24. Dallas Cowboys: WR Dez Bryant, who averaged 91 catches, 1,315 yards, 14 TDs from 2012-14.
2009:
Buffalo Bills: DE Aaron Maybin, Penn State, who has just 6 sacks and 36 tackles in four years.
Later in the round:
15. Houston Texans: LB Brian Cushing, a ROY, Pro Bowl in 2009, and impact player despite injuries.
26. Green Bay Packers: LB Clay Matthews, who has 6 Pro Bowls, 67.5 career sacks.
2008:
Buffalo Bills: CB Leodis McKelvin, Troy, a 60-game starter with 13 picks. He's a two-time all-pro KR.
Later in the round:
12. Denver Broncos: OT Ryan Clady, a four-time Pro Bowler and a fixture at LT since Day One.
18. Baltimore Ravens: QB Joe Flacco, whose most recent contract has $40 million in guarantees.
2007:
San Francisco 49ers: LB Patrick Willis, Mississippi, who became one of the all-time greats with seven straight Pro Bowls.
Later in the round:
12. Buffalo Bills: RB Marshawn Lynch, who became a beast with five Pro Bowls and six 1,000-yard seasons.
14. New York Jets: Darrelle Revis, who became the best cover CB of his generation and has seven Pro Bowls.
2006:
Denver Broncos: QB Jay Cutler, Vanderbilt, whose up-and-down career could still be peaking with Bears.
Later in the round:
12. Baltimore Ravens: DT Haloti Ngata, who earned five straight Pro Bowls (2009-13).
20. Kansas City Chiefs: DE-OLB Tamba Hali, who has 86 career sacks, 33 FF, and five straight Pro Bowls (2011-15).
2005:
Dallas Cowboys DE DeMarcus Ware, Troy, who has been to nine Pro Bowls and collected 134.5 career sacks.
Later in the round:
24. Green Bay Packers: QB Aaron Rodgers, who has the highest career passer rating (104.1) in NFL history.
27. Atlanta Falcons: WR Roddy White, who has 808 catches, 10,863 yards, 6 straight 1,100-yard years.
2004:
Pittsburgh Steelers: QB Ben Roethlisberger, Miami (O.), who won two Super Bowls and is a four-time Pro Bowler.
Later in the round:
14. Chicago Bears: DT Tommie Harris, who went to three Pro Bowls (2005-07) before knee injuries took a toll.
21. New England Patriots: DT Vince Wilfork, a quintessential run-stuffer who made five Pro Bowls.
2003:
Seattle Seahawks: CB Marcus Trufant, Washington State, who has 125 starts, 21 interceptions, and made the 2007 Pro Bowl.
Later in the round:
16. Pittsburgh Steelers: S Troy Polamalu, with eight Pro Bowls and 32 picks.
24. Dallas Cowboys: TE Dallas Clark, who has 505 career catches for 5,665 yards and 53 TDs.
2002:
Indianapolis Colts: DE Dwight Freeney, Syracuse, with 119.5 career sacks, including 8 last year at age 35.
Later in the round:
14. New York Giants: TE Jeremy Shockey, with four Pro Bowls, 547 receptions for 6,143 yards.
24. Baltimore Ravens: S Ed Reed, with nine Pro Bowls, 64 interceptions with 7 returned for TD.
2001:
Carolina Panthers: LB Dan Morgan, Miami, who had just one Pro Bowl before injuries ended career in 2007.
Later in the round:
17. Seattle Seahawks: OG Steve Hutchinson, who made 7 straight Pro Bowls (2003-09) and had 169 starts.
19. Pittsburgh Steelers: NT Casey Hampton, this immovable middle man played 173 games and made five Pro Bowls.
2000:
New York Giants: RB Ron Dayne, Wisconsin, whose 7-year NFL career (3.8 ypc) is a major disappointment.
Later in the round:
13. New York Jets LB: John Abraham with 133.5 sacks in 192 games with three teams.
19. Seattle Seahawks: RB Shaun Alexander, with 9,453 yards and 100 TDs in just 9 seasons.
1999:
Minnesota Vikings: QB Daunte Culpepper, Central Florida, who made three Pro Bowls in first 6 seasons but none after that.
Later in the round:
16. Tennessee Titans: DE Jevon Kearse, who had 36 sacks, three Pro Bowls in first three season. Final 8 seasons: 38 sacks, no Pro Bowls.
17. New England Patriots: C Damien Woody, who started 166 games with three teams and made 2002 Pro Bowl.
1998:
Philadelphia Eagles: OT Tra Thomas, Florida State, who missed just 11 starts in first 11 seasons and made three Pro Bowls.
Later in the round:
12. Atlanta Falcons: LB Keith Brooking, who played 225 games, made five straight Pro Bowls (2001-05).
21. Minnesota Vikings: WR Randy Moss, who had 982 catches, 15,292 yards, 156 TDs.
1997:
Atlanta Falcons: CB Michael Booker, Nebraska, who started just 11 of 73 career games but had 8 picks.
Later in the round:
12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: RB Warrick Dunn, who had 10,967 rush yards, 4,339 receiving in 12 years.
13. Kansas City Chiefs: TE Tony Gonzalez, who played 17 years, collecting 1,325 catches, 15,127 yards, 111 TDs.
1996:
New Orleans Saints: DB Alex Molden, Oregon, who started 57 of 98 games with 12 interceptions.
Later in the round:
14. Houston Oilers: RB Eddie George, who rushed for at least 1,294 yards in first 5 seasons.
19. Indianapolis Colts: WR Marvin Harrison, who had 1,102 catches, 14,580 yards, 128 TDs, and eight Pro Bowls.