The Chicago Bears enter 2017 having accomplished two rare franchise feats. They finished the season 3-13, their worst record ever in a 16-game schedule. As a byproduct of that, they ended up with the third overall pick in the NFL draft this coming April. It will be the first time in 44 years the team has held a selection that high.

That was 1972 and the choice was Lionel Antoine out of Southern Illinois. He proved to be a bust, one of several made by the Bears brass during that dark stretch between the late 1960s and early 1970s. Naturally the organization is hoping their luck will be much better than it was back then. Given the state of things, it’s hard to be optimistic.

Nonetheless the speculation has already begun. Most had already begun to single out certain prospects who would be the prime targets for Chicago. Maybe it was a quarterback like Mitch Trubisky or Deshone Kizer. Then again there are potential pass rushers like Myles Garrett and Jonathan Allen. Even a stud running back in Leonard Fournette to pair with Jordan Howard is being discussed.

All of that will change now thanks to the singular decision of one young man.