The Chicago Bears have been connected to several 1st round prospects going into next week. That includes every viable offensive tackle. Each has taken a turn getting lots of buzz, but the most recent has been Northwestern’s Peter Skoronski. Several local and national sources think GM Ryan Poles will ultimately go with the local product, preferring his well-rounded game and tenacious playing style. Not to mention his exceptional versatility. The one problem people can’t get over are his shorter 32-inch arms. That is a problematic length for NFL tackles.
There is one possible reason Poles may like Skoronski anyway. The kid might remind the Bears GM of somebody he knows well. Bradon Thorn of Trench Warfare spoke with Courtney Cronin of ESPN, making a noteworthy comparison.
“You could potentially have a really special guard, or you could have a solid to maybe above average tackle,” Thorn said. “I compared him to [Kansas City Chiefs guard] Joe Thuney. He played left tackle at NC State and he was really good, but the shorter arms thing is part of it. Just an ability to anchor against certain body types off the edge, Skoronski struggled with that a little bit. Thuney definitely did. And then you move him [Thuney] inside and you’ve got a total [elite player] in there that you don’t have to worry about. That’s kind of how I see Skoronski.”
Poles was a director of player personnel in Kansas City when the Chiefs signed Thuney to a lucrative five-year contract in 2021. He has since gone to his first Pro Bowl with them, helping to win the Super Bowl last season. He allowed only 20 total pressures on the quarterback all season.
Peter Skoronski presents an interesting dilemma.
It appears the Bears’ must decide whether to take a big swing on a more physically gifted tackle with a lower floor or settle for Skoronski, who may end up playing his best years at guard. That doesn’t plug the team’s biggest need on the offensive line, but it does raise the overall floor of talent. They could try him at left tackle for a year to see how he does. If it goes well, fantastic. If not, move him inside and find your tackle next year. It comes down to how much Poles would be willing to compromise on the length concerns.
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An interior of Joe Thuney 2.0, Cody Whitehair, and Nate Davis would be a substantial upgrade from last season. Maybe the Bears feel they can still secure a solid tackle on Day 2 of the draft. Nothing is clear. The only persistent rumor of late is that they wish to trade down. Maybe they feel Peter Skoronski will still be available after doing so, especially if other teams share reservations about his length. It might not be the flashy pick fans want, but it’d definitely be the safest.
