Stephen Paea Drafted By the Chicago Bears in the 2nd Round
April 29, 2011
NEW YORK, N.Y. -
Former Oregon State defensive tackle Stephen Paea has been drafted with the 21st pick of the 2nd round 53rd overall) by the Chicago Bears on Friday in the 2011 National Football League Draft.
Paea was a three-year letterman playing in 38 games, including 37 starts. The Los Altos, Calif. native was a 2010 Associated Press and Sports Illustrated First Team All-American, and earned the Pac-10 Conference’s Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year. He is a two-time recipient of the Morris Trophy, given annually to the top defensive lineman and voted on by the league’s offensive linemen. In February, Paea broke the NFL Combine record for the most bench presses, lifting 225 pounds 49 times.
Paea is the first Oregon State defensive lineman to be drafted since Bill Swancutt went to the Detroit Lions in the 6th round in 2005 – Victor Butler and Slade Norris were both drafted in 2008 but now play linebacker in the NFL. His 2nd round selection is the highest an OSU defensive lineman taken in the NFL Draft since Dwan Edwards went to the Baltimore Ravens with the 51st overall pick in 2004.
Paea’s selection marks the 11th consecutive year that a former Oregon State player has been taken in the NFL Draft.
