Devin Hester likely would be a top pick in "re-draft"

LAKE FOREST, Ill. – The Bears spent second-round picks on Devin Hester and Matt Forte in 2006 and 2008, respectively. But both players would be chosen a lot higher if those drafts were conducted again today.

At least that’s the belief of ESPN.com’s Rick Reilly, who projects that Hester would be selected eighth overall in a “re-draft,” a leap of 49 spots from where he actually was picked at No. 57. Reilly thinks that Forte would go 13th, a jump of 31 slots from where he was chosen at No. 44.Hester owns the all-time NFL record with 14 kick return touchdowns. He set the single-season mark with five as a rookie, and then eclipsed it with six in his second year.

Last season Hester was named All-Pro for the third time after leading the NFL in punt returns with a career-high and Bears record 17.1-yard average and three TDs. He also topped the NFL in kickoff returns with a 35.6-yard average, but his 12 returns were too few to officially qualify.

While Reilly feels that Hester and Forte would be selected higher in a re-draft than they actually were, the ESPN writer thinks that tight end Greg Olsen and offensive lineman Chris Williams would be chosen lower.

Reilly projects that Olsen would be selected 45th, a drop of 14 spots from where he was picked in 2007 at No. 31; and Williams would be chosen 181st, a fall of 167 slots from where he was chosen in 2008 at No. 14.

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(chicagobears.com)