Bears May Have Another Braxton Jones In Their Sights
The Chicago Bears took a simple and straightforward approach before the 2022 draft. They identified players that fit their physical profile at every position, then determined whether they had the capacity to improve with the right coaching. It’s hardly a foolproof concept, but it’s been proven to work on several occasions in the past. Braxton Jones is the perfect example. Nobody knew anything about him going into that draft. He was a no-name left tackle from tiny Southern Utah, a team that went 1-10 that season. However, the Bears liked his size, length, and athleticism. He also did well in interviews, showcasing maturity and intelligence rare for his age.
So they took him in the 5th round, hoping their investment could yield dividends with time. He was their starting left tackle on opening day a few months later. Nobody expected it. One would think that might give them some confidence to try the same approach again. A new update suggests they have that idea in mind. The Bears are among multiple teams showing considerable interest in Jackson State left tackle Tony Gray.
Like Jones, he’s big, has good length, and appears athletic. He also clearly plays the position with a mean streak Poles would love.
Braxton Jones serves as a proof of concept.
If the Bears were able to get that much out of him, it’s enough evidence to suggest their approach can work, provided they stay consistent. Gray has the physical profile. It’s uncertain how he’s done in interviews, but the interest from so many teams suggests that hasn’t been a problem either. Projections have him going somewhere on Day 3 of the draft, probably between the 5th and 7th rounds. The fact he played under Deion Sanders on a good team has helped elevate his profile.
If nothing else, it’s nice to see Braxton Jones’ success feed into his team’s willingness to give other players like him another look. Small school offensive linemen often struggle to get noticed by the NFL because of the low-level talent they play against. Teams often don’t think they can handle the massive step up to the pro level. He’s proven such a gulf can indeed be crossed.