The debate around the Chicago Bears’ choice with the 10th overall pick has been raging for weeks. It doesn’t figure to let up until late next month when answers will finally arrive that Thursday night in Green Bay. Everybody has theories about who it will be. Many think head coach Ben Johnson is eager to reinvigorate the running game with Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty. Others insist it will be whomever the best pass rusher on the board is. Quite a few think there’s no way the Bears can pass on Penn State tight end Tyler Warren.
However, one person has remained conspicuously persistent on one name ahead of the action. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune has some of the best inside connections to the Bears in the local beat. The name he first mentioned as one to watch is LSU left tackle Will Campbell. Even as the landscape seems to shift with the draft drawing closer, Biggs has not softened his stance on this idea. While many are wary of Campbell’s well-documented short arms, he seems to be hinting that it might not scare the Bears as much as people think.
The Chicago Bears liking Campbell shouldn’t be a surprise.
As always, one must remember who is running the show. That is head coach Ben Johnson. While Matt Eberflus may have prioritized length in his linemen, that doesn’t seem to be the case with Johnson. Both of his starting tackles in Detroit had arms considered on the shorter side. Taylor Decker was 33 and 3/4 inches, while Penei Sewell was 33 and 1/2. Both of them became Pro Bowlers under Johnson’s watch. It doesn’t seem the coach will let less than an inch of arm length deter him from drafting a good player, presuming that is what he sees in Campbell.
Biggs is correct. For all this talk about his arms, the LSU standout was an excellent blocker in the nation’s best conference for three years. This isn’t somebody who feasted on inferior competition. Campbell matched up with the best and didn’t blink. At worst, the left tackle experiment doesn’t work out and the Chicago Bears make him the eventual successor to Joe Thuney at left guard. If it does work out? They’ve finally plugged a vital position on their offense.
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@JimJones I don’t disagree with any of that. I think getting “a really good guard” at 1.10 should kind of be the point here, if the decision has been made internally that the offensive line was the primary problem last year. That would be a perfectly great outcome for the franchise. It’s not exactly a layup but it’s certainly a realistic expectation.
So, who is the most bust-resistant guard in the draft? Maybe it’s Campbell, maybe it’s someone else. Whoever it is, coach BJ should pick him at 1.10 and take the W.
I’m not overly hostile to Tyler Warren or Ashton Jeanty at 1.10 — conceptually, they’re the same pick there. But elite offensive guards cost more in today’s NFL than TEs or RBs, and you need two good ones for the offense to work. Really, the conversation about positional value that I want to have is: What if Shedeur Sanders or Jaxon Dart or even Cam Ward slips to 1.10? (I’ll try to express this idea without digging in on QB1’s awful rookie season, because I’ve done that enough and I feel like people on here just gloss over whatever the… Read more »
Meh, I just don’t see how his game translates at Tackle to the NFL against grown men. He is going to have to rework his stance. He is so tall and upright. NFL edges will get under him and get to his chest. Especially with his short arms. Think he can be a really good guard with some work due to his athleticism, but if they are thinking Tackle, I would rather go Membou and work with that clay. Or even Conerly in the 2nd. Both would give you guard flexibility early on with potential at tackle.
I’d just like to thank Barry for saving me the aggravation of having to explain team needs and positional fits to the peanut gallery… again.
Why worry, be unhappy.