Popular Draft Names The Chicago Bears Will Likely Avoid

The thing to remember about the NFL draft is that a board for one team isn’t the same as another. GMs and head coaches rank these prospects differently. Some that are high on one board might not even be on another. Sometimes it’s because of off-the-field concerns. Other times it’s due to a lack of speed. The reasoning varies by person. It’s no different for Ryan Poles, Matt Eberflus, and the Chicago Bears. They have specific parameters when it comes to evaluating talent.

One can safely assume that will reflect in the upcoming 2023 draft. Having seen the two men in action thus far and hearing their comments, I got to thinking. What are some prominent names in this class that are beloved by evaluators but might not be rated high on the Bears’ board? You might be surprised by some of them.

Will Anderson (EDGE, Alabama)

This is a painful one because I’m a big fan of Anderson. However, it’s important to maintain objectivity here. The Crimson Tide pass rusher is as accomplished as they come, but he has one glaring issue. He’s not the prototypical size for a 4-3 defensive end. His listed weight is 243 lbs. Most defensive ends must be at least 260. Eberflus likes them big and strong. Perhaps they make an exception for Anderson if he adds some weight at the combine, but somebody like Tyree Wilson (6’6, 275 lbs) feels like a more likely target.

O’Cyrus Torrence (OG, Florida)

Many believe he is the best guard in this draft class. His size, length, and power mixture had people talking at the Senior Bowl. Luke Getsy coached him directly. One would think he made a positive impression. The problem is he isn’t a good fit for this offense. Chicago runs a zone-blocking system. That demands linemen who are quick and athletic. Torrence isn’t known for those qualities. He’s not at his best on pulls or getting to the second level. That lack of range will keep him down the Bears’ board.

Tank Dell (WR, Houston)

One of the stars of the Senior Bowl was the speedy Cougars receiver. His mixture of speed and quickness was a nightmare for defensive backs to handle. His 2700 receiving yards over the past two seasons also illustrate how dangerous he was. The problem is he is 5’8 and 163 lbs. That is painfully undersized for the NFL. There is also the fact he had 21 dropped passes since 2021. The Chicago Bears have already had headaches with receivers that couldn’t consistently catch the ball. His speed alone won’t be enough to sell him.

Calijah Kancey (DT, Pitt)

Based purely on production, Kancey would be an easy target for them. Any defensive tackle that can produce 14.5 sacks and 27.5 tackles for a loss in two years is worth looking into. It isn’t about his quickness, athleticism, or pass rush skills. Kancey is simply too small. He’s listed as 6’0 and 280 lbs. Eberflus has never fielded a defensive tackle that size. In the run game, he would be a liability, as bigger guards could push him around. He has enough ability to make up for that in other ways, but the Bears won’t want to take that risk.

Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson (CB, TCU)

Sensing a theme yet? If you aren’t, this should make it pretty clear. Hodges-Tomlinson was a central part of TCU’s unexpected run to the national title game. He had three interceptions, 15 passes defended, a forced fumble, and 50 tackles. He demonstrated a well-rounded game for any cornerback. If only he weren’t 5’8 and 175 lbs. That kind of size isn’t ideal for the NFL. Remember, Duke Shelley had a similar frame and this regime didn’t even think before cutting him. They value guys around 6’0 and 200 lbs.