Multiple NFL Scouts Think Bears Target This Position In 1st Round
The Chicago Bears have done a good job of keeping everyone guessing as to their real intentions for this upcoming NFL draft. Some think they take the best offensive tackle available. Others believe Matt Eberflus will push GM Ryan Poles to consider Jalen Carter or a top pass rusher. There is even a contingent of people in the fringe that think wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba is in play. All scenarios seem possible because this team needs lots of help. There is also the lingering possibility they trade down again.
In these situations, it’s often interesting to get the perspective of people inside the league itself. Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reached out to several sources on what could unfold early in the draft. According to what he’s hearing from several scouts, the belief is Chicago will focus on Justin Fields’ protection.
The Bears (No. 9), Titans (No. 11) and New York Jets (No. 13) are among teams that scouts believe will strongly consider offensive line help with their top picks. These teams met with Georgia’s Broderick Jones this week. Northwestern’s Peter Skoronski — whom one NFC scout says has the ability to become a Hall of Fame-type guard — is an option for the top 10, and Ohio State’s Paris Johnson Jr. and Tennessee’s Darnell Wright are also well-positioned for high picks. Once one offensive lineman comes off the board, a run on tackles could follow.
This is hardly a surprise. The Bears still have a glaring hole at right tackle and question marks at center. They failed to land any of the top free agents at either position. So it only makes sense Poles would look to correct the problem in the draft.
The Chicago Bears have every reason to do this.
The last time this organization invested a 1st round pick in the offensive line was Kyle Long in 2013. Offensive tackle was Gabe Carimi in 2011. It’s been far too long. The road to playoff success in the NFL has always been in the trenches. It isn’t a coincidence the Bears’ lack of overall success for the past decade can be traced to constant weakness up front. Fields was sacked 55 times last season. If they want him to be anything close to a franchise quarterback, that number must be cut in half.
That can rarely be done with half-measures. The Chicago Bears have to get serious. If they want to make the most of Fields, it requires true investments. D.J. Moore was a good start. So is new guard Nate Davis. Now it’s time to bring everything together with a talented tackle. Then again, this regime has already shown it won’t bow to outside pressures. If Poles believes another player carries more value than the tackles available, he will take that player. He proved it last year by ignoring wide receivers in the 2nd round.
The 28th will be a fascinating evening.