Chicago Bears 2017 NFL Draft Grades: Grading Each Selection for Chicago

The Chicago Bears traded down in the second round, helping pick up value lost in the first round trade for Trubisky. After trading down from the 36th to the 45th overall pick, the Bears drafted small school tight end, Adam Shaheen.

Shaheen joins the Bears after an impressive career at Ashland University. He was a college basketball player who made the transition to football at the Division II level and immediately became a star.

Shaheen’s size immediately stands out. He is a 6-foot-6, 278-pound tight end who runs extremely well for his size. Shaheen can create legitimate separation on the field and is a threat to take a short pass and score from anywhere on the field. He is a fantastic catch-and-run player who can also stretch the field and become a red zone nightmare.

There is a lot to like about Shaheen’s game. He undoubtedly has big-time upside at the next level. That being said, he did not exactly play against top-level competition in college. Shaheen dominated against Division II competition but would he have done the same in the Big Ten or SEC? There is no way to know the answer to that question, making Shaheen a tough player to evaluate.

Also, while he is a massive player, Shaheen is not a reliable blocker. The upside for him to become a strong run blocker is there but that part of his game is completely unrefined.

I like the Bears finding a target to come in and grow with Trubisky. As a guy who can take a short pass and make a play and go up and get the ball in the end zone, Shaheen could quickly become a favorite of the young quarterback. Make no mistake about it, there is a lot to like about this pick.