Chicago Bears: 15 best NFL Draft Picks of the 2010’s

Despite playing just four seasons for the Bears, Corey Wootton was never the flashiest player for the Bears, however, he did bring some tenacity to the position. However, how exactly does he end up at number 15 on this list?  Arriving in Chicago in 2010, the biggest reason Wootton didn’t see more playing time is because at the time, he was penciled in behind names like Julius Peppers, Mark Anderson, and Israel Idonije.

Essentially, due to such a loaded depth chart, Wootton rarely saw playing time during his first two seasons. However, when he did finally get a chance to play in 2012, his third season with the team, Wootton would have seven sacks in seven starts.

His first three seasons, Wootton would primarily just play defensive end, however, in his fourth season, he’d play a combination of both defensive end and defensive tackle. During the same season, he’d also end up starting 15 games but have just three sacks, a major regression from his third season.

Wootton’s most signature moment would come in 2010 when the Bears were playing the Vikings and he sacked then Vikings quarterback Brett Favre, knocking Favre out of the game. That same night, the Bears would go on to win the NFC North for their first division title in the 2010s.

Wootton’s time in Chicago would come to an end in 2014 when he agreed to terms with the division rival Minnesota Vikings. His stint in Minnesota would last just one year before he’d spend a year with the Detroit Lions and then announce his retirement from the NFL in 2016.