Former Bears Director of College Scouting Greg Gabriel revealed on the National Football Post how the Bears almost didn’t get a chance to select Devin Hester in the second round of the ’06 NFL Draft.
Thank you, LenDale White and Floyd Reese – the Titans general manager who chose White over Hester at pick No. 45.
Hester, drafted by Bears GM Jerry Angelo twelve picks later, was one (Danieal Manning) of the players Gabriel had his eyes on heading into the draft – “we had to get Devin Hester.”
Remember, it also took the Bills to make this happen.
Buffalo traded their second (No. 42 – Manning) and third-round (No. 73 – Dusty Dvoracek) picks for the Bears’ 26th overall pick (John McCargo) in the first round.
When Gabriel called Hester to inform him the Bears were drafting him he said, “For real? Tennessee called and told me they were going to draft me and then decided against it.”
So close.
Revisiting ’06 draft: As I look back and reminisce watching the draft live, I absolutely wanted Ohio State wide receiver Santonio Holmes at pick No. 26. Instead, Holmes went the pick before to the defending Super Bowl champion Steelers, who traded up seven slots with the Giants to snag him.
Also, I was truly enamored with fourth-round pick (No. 120) linebacker Jamar Williams from Arizona State. I honestly believed he was going to be our Roosevelt Colvin or Warrick Holdman to compliment Urlacher and Briggs. All I heard about him was his instincts and ability to make plays, having a nose for the football.
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