Presenting the 2015 Chicago Fire NFL Draft Class

The talk of the town in Chicago this week is the arrival of the 2015 NFL Draft, the first time the annual spectacle has been staged in the Windy City since 1964. Millions of eyeballs from all around the country will be fixated on the Auditorium Theatre, where the physical ability of hundreds of top prospects will be scrutinized on end.

Fortunately for Frank Yallop and the Chicago Fire, there’s little chance that any of the current Men In Red will hear their names called by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. But the endless Draft talk in Chicago got us wondering who on the Fire might make for the most sought-after NFL prospects, and the positions on the gridiron where each would thrive.

With that in mind, we present the “Big Board” of the 2015 Chicago Fire Draft Class. We limited it to our top 15 picks and did our best to round out a complete roster of talent. As you can see, our scouting reports differed slightly from those of the Men In Red as seen in the video above. 

1. Sean Johnson, Tight End

Just look at him. At 6-foot-3, 217 pounds, Johnson is a physical specimen with great hands, and we’ve already seen Johnson’s ability to open up his stride. Other than the goalmouth, there’s no better place for him than lined up next to the right tackle. In short-yardage situations, you can bet that any QB in the league would love to look for the Milkman to deliver coming across the middle.

2. David Accam, Running Back/Kick Return

At 5-foot-9, the Ghanaian midfielder has shown the impressive footwork and the ability to change directions in traffic required of an NFL-caliber tailback. And in the kicking game, we know no one will chase him down once he gets past the initial wave of defenders. We’re not guaranteeing Devin Hester-like touchdown numbers … but we’re also not NOT guaranteeing it, either.
3. Harry Shipp, Kicker

Sure, there aren’t many NFL general managers who would be bold enough to use a first-round pick on a place-kicker. But have you seen Shipp’s set pieces and cross-field service? If he can deliver such deft crosses into the penalty area, there’s no reason he can’t put the pigskin through the uprights. Also, his shiftiness with the ball could make him a dangerous weapon on fake field goals and extra points.

4. Matt Polster, Outside Linebacker

One of the most recent Men In Red to actually hear his name called in a draft, Polster was an attractive pick for the Fire technical staff in part because of his versatility. He may need to put in some time in the weight room, but let’s see if he can continue to impact the game from a spot where he’ll be relied upon in both run and pass defense. For our money, there's no one else we'd rather have tasked with making a touchdown-saving tackle in the open field.

5. Guly do Prado, Wide Receiver

NFL Draft guru Mel Kiper might throw around words like "length" and "wingspan" when discussing the attributes of do Prado (pictured, right) that are sure to cause opposing defenses problems on the perimeter. The 6-foot-3 striker has the ability to run by defenders and elevate for aerial crosses. Once inside the red zone, we're just instructing our QB to lob it up to the lanky Brazilian and let him go get it.
6. Kennedy Igboananike, Free Safety

The Nigerian native has shown flashes of the speed that can change the game when found in open space. Having a guy with his athleticism and fearlessness roaming the secondary is sure to make quarterbacks nervous.

7. Mike Magee, Running Back

He won’t blow anyone away with his speed, but Magic Mike's footwork and ability to work in tight spaces make him an intriguing commodity. Operating in a dynamic backfield platoon with David Accam, Magee can be an elusive back if he has good blockers in front of him...

8. Eric Gehrig, Fullback

...which brings us to No. 8 on our Chicago Fire NFL Draft Big Board, Eric Gehrig. Fearless and smart with good upper-body strength and a team-first attitude, Gehrig is the ideal candidate to pave the way for Accam and Magee in the backfield. A native Chicagoan and die-hard Bears fan, we'd love to see how John Fox could employ Gehrig in his offense next season.

9. Chris Ritter, Defensive End

The defensive midfielder is a wild card. Someone with his physical attributes, awareness and willingness to do the dirty work could be tossed into any spot and find success. But with his Big Ten pedigree and his disruptive nature in the opposition's final third, our scouts would slot him at defensive end with a specialty for stopping the run.

10. Quincy Amarikwa, Cornerback

"Quincy's also not lacking the confidence and bravado required of all top-caliber defensive backs."

Remember "Prime Time" Deion Sanders? (Of course you do.) Well, enter #QuincyTime. Though just 5-foot-9, the club's 2014 scoring leader is a strong and relentless player who doesn’t back down from anyone. Pit Quincy against bigger receivers, with his speed and agility, and we're confident he would lock them down. On top of his physical attributes, Quincy's also not lacking the confidence and bravado required of all top-caliber defensive backs.

11. Shaun Maloney, Quarterback

He's a tad undersized, may not know the rules and doesn't appear to have played much rugby in his native Scotland. But this one's pretty simple: he's got superb vision and is comfortable pulling the strings of an offense. Plus, we figure that a guy who can pass so accurately with his feet should be able to do the same with his arm, right? Well, maybe not, but we think it would be fun to watch the wee man give it a go.

12. Patrick Nyarko, Wide Receiver

He’s got good size, great pace and an ability to find openings in the opposing defense. If put in the slot, the longest-tenured player on the Fire would pick up short gains on play after play. Consider him our sleeper pick.

13. Joevin Jones, Strong Safety

Throughout the course of a game, the Trinidadian fullback (pictured, left) covers a lot of ground, often
making his way into the attack
. He would be right at home in a position that requires him to stop the run on some plays and drop back in coverage on others.
14. Adaílton, Special Teams

The Brazilian centerback’s header against the Philadelphia Union showed that he can be a threat in the air. Since he may not have the speed to put his solid 6-foot-3 frame at wideout, it might be best to put him on field goal coverage and see if he can get his hands on a kick.

15. Jon Busch, Punter

He’s a goalkeeper and can really put his leg into it, so we have total confidence in asking Busch to pin the opposing offense deep in its own end. It's also not uncommon to see punters play into their late 30's and early 40's, so we have no qualms about using a late-round draft pick on the 38-year-old goalie.

So there you have it, the Chicago Fire NFL Draft Class of 2015. Other than being a bit light on offensive and defensive linemen, what do you think of the roster? Think guys like Jeff Larentowicz, Lovel Palmer or Michael Stephens were overlooked in the Draft? Let us know your thoughts using the hashtag #cf97Draft on Twitter or in the comments section below.