With the biggest wave of free agency done, the Chicago Bears have paused to take stock. GM Ryan Poles did some encouraging work over the past week. He added three new starting interior offensive linemen (Drew Dalman/Joe Thuney/Jonah Jackson), a starting defensive end (Dayo Odeyingbo), a blocking tight end (Durham Smythe), and an interior pass rusher (Grady Jarrett). According to Poles, these moves have opened up the entire draft board. Evaluations will be extensive over the next month as he and head coach Ben Johnson work to determine which direction to go.
Many experts believe these moves are a clear signal the Bears plan to add one of the top skill players in the 1st round. Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty and Penn State tight end Tyler Warren are the ones mentioned the most. However, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune pumped the brakes on that idea. He indicated on Twitter that because the Bears now have one of the highest-paid offensive lines in the NFL, they might be inclined to grab a young blocker early to give themselves proper sustainability in the long term.
The Chicago Bears face a difficult decision.
There is offensive line talent in this draft. That isn’t the issue. Many are concerned that every top name that could go in the 1st round has a red flag. Will Campbell of LSU has really short arms at 32 inches. Josh Simmons of Ohio State tore his patella tendon last season. Kelvin Banks of Texas has concerns about his leaky pass protection. Armand Membou of Missouri is on the shorter side and has only ever played right tackle, which is the one position the Bears don’t need.
Whichever direction they choose would come with risks. Teams do not prefer taking such gambles with a top-10 pick. This is why many feel the Chicago Bears brass will opt for the safer play of taking a Jeanty or Warren. They don’t have any glaring concerns and should be immediate contributors. Then again, Johnson and Poles are known for not being risk-averse. If they think one of those linemen can become a Pro Bowler in the NFL, they’ll weigh the odds and pull the trigger. At least, that is what Biggs is hinting at.
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