Safety Eddie Jackson and running back Tarik Cohen were both selected by the Bears in the fourth round of the 2017 draft, but that's not all they have in common.
Motivated to prove they should have been drafted higher, Jackson and Cohen emerged as rookie playmakers and are driven to take the next step in their second seasons.
"It just makes us compete," Jackson said Sunday at Bears training camp. "We come out every day with that mindset of getting better, want to just prove everybody wrong. There was a lot of doubt about him coming out, a lot of doubt about me coming out, and we just want to continue to prove critics wrong."
Jackson no doubt slipped to the No. 112 pick in the draft because he missed the final seven games of his senior season at Alabama in 2016 with a broken leg he sustained while returning a punt. The injury prevented him from working out at the NFL Combine.
"I feel like the only reason he went that late [in the draft] is because of his injury," Cohen said. "I tell all my homeboys back home that he's really a first-round pick without the injury. His stats prove that."
Jackson displayed ball skills, big-play ability and the knack for getting into the end zone with the Crimson Tide, scoring five career touchdowns on interception returns of 93, 55 and 50 yards and punt returns of 85 and 79 yards.
Jackson demonstrated the same traits as a Bears rookie last year, scoring touchdowns on a 75-yard fumble recovery and a 76-yard interception return in a 17-3 win over the Panthers. In the process, he became the first player in NFL history to record two defensive TDs of at least 75 yards in a game.
Cohen likely slipped in the draft to pick No. 119 because he played at a small college in North Carolina A&T and is only 5-6 and 181 pounds. But that didn't stop him from having a breakout rookie season in Chicago.
Demonstrating the same electrifying moves that earned him the nickname "The Human Joystick" in college, Cohen rushed for 370 yards and two touchdowns on 87 carries, caught 53 passes for 358 yards and one TD, averaged 9.4 yards with one touchdown on 29 punt returns, averaged 22.4 yards on 26 kickoff returns and even threw a TD pass.
"He's very versatile," Jackson said. "You line him up at X, Z, whatever at receiver, he'll look like he's been playing there all season long. That's one of his strengths.
"It's going to be exciting to watch him. They've been putting him at [several different positions]. It's kind of crazy, but it's kind of fun. It's going to be a sight to see."
Every day at practice, Jackson and Cohen motivate each other to improve.
"I feel like it's great," Cohen said, "because when we're going against each other, it makes us bring out the best because you don't want your homeboy to have nothing over you that you can bring back to the room and talk about like, 'I got you today.' That competition brings out the best."
Senior writer Larry Mayer ranks the top 10 draft rounds in which the Bears selected multiple players.
1972 first round Craig Clemons and Lionel Antoine. The Bears landed longtime starters in tackle Lionel Antoine at No. 3 and safety Craig Clemons at No. 12 in the 1972 draft. Photo credit: AP Images
1988 first round Brad Muster and Wendell Davis. The Bears selected a pair of key contributors in 1988 when they picked fullback Brad Muster at No. 23 and receiver Wendell Davis at No. 27. Photo credit: AP Images
2017 fourth round Tarik Cohen and Eddie Jackson with plenty of potential to move up this list, running back Tarik Cohen and safety Eddie Jackson both showed their playmaking ability as Bears rookies in 2017. Photo credit: AP Images
1999 fourth round Warrick Holdman and Rosevelt Colvin Warrick Holdman and Rosevelt Colvin teamed with 2000 first-round pick Brian Urlacher to form one of the NFL's most promising core of young linebackers in the early 2000s.
1989 first round Donnell Woolford and Trace Armstrong. The Bears chose a pair of productive longtime starters in cornerback Donnell Woolford at No. 11 and defensive end Trace Armstrong at No. 12 in 1989. Photo credit: AP Images
1983 first round Willie Gault and Jim Covert
The Bears selected two key members of their 1985 Super Bowl championship team in the first round of the 1983 draft in tackle Jim Covert at No. 6 and receiver Willie Gault at No. 18.
1979 first round Dan Hampton and Al Harris. The Bears chose Hall of Fame defensive lineman Dan Hampton fourth overall in 1979 and added longtime linemate Al Harris at No. 9 in 1979.
1939 first round Sid Luckman and Bill Osmanski. The Bears selected Hall of Fame quarterback Sid Luckman with the second pick and added star fullback Bill Osmanski at No. 6 in 1939.
1983 eighth round Richard Dent and Mark Bortz. The Bears landed the steal of the 1983 draft in Hall of Famer Richard Dent as well as a long-time starting guard in Mark Bortz in the eighth round.
1965 first round Dick Butkus and Gale Sayers. The Bears hit a pair of grand slams with the No. 3 and 4 picks in the 1965 draft when they selected a pair of legendary Hall of Famers.
