The Chicago Bears had followed the script through the first two picks of their 2024 NFL draft. First, they secured their quarterback of the future with Caleb Williams. Then they got him a weapon by taking Rome Odunze at #9. With those two out of the way, many believed GM Ryan Poles would shift his focus in the 3rd round to helping the defense by grabbing a pass rusher. Instead, the Bears hatched a surprise when they took Yale left tackle Kiran Amegadjie. It was a confusing move because the team already had Braxton Jones, and the rookie was also recovering from a quad injury. Poles usually avoids players with health issues.
However, the Bears felt Amegadjie was a unique specimen. While he might not be ready to play immediately, his size, power, and athleticism made him a great developmental project for offensive line coach Chris Morgan. Give him a year to learn the NFL and he would challenge for that left tackle job in 2025. One person who thinks the Bears got away with theft is Tony Reno. He’s been head coach at Yale since 2012. While he has seen several good players come and go, Amegadjie is different. Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune had his thoughts.
“I’ve said this to scouts, coaches, front office people: Now we’ve got six (players) in the NFL and we put another five in, and he has the most growth potential out of any of the guys. He’s a really good player, but he was new to the game in high school. He only played 2 ½ seasons in college with the injury. So I think he has a huge upside…
…From a physical standpoint, he has great feet and he has really good hips. He can run through contact in the run game. He also has great feet and is someone who controls the edges in the pass game well. He’s not afraid to play inside and be an interior blocker, and he has the athleticism and experience to play on the edge. He played every position for us but center and he can do the same at the next level.”
That is high praise for Kiran Amegadjie.
Keep this in mind. Yale has put some really good players into the NFL over the years. Probably the most well-known at the moment is Foyesade Oluokun. Since entering the league in 2018, he’s been a Pro Bowl-caliber linebacker for both the Atlanta Falcons and Jacksonville Jaguars. Reno stated without pausing that Amegadjie has the capacity to far surpass him. There were several instances in 2022 when the left tackle basically controlled games with his blocking ability, especially on the ground.
The craziest thing is Kiran Amegadjie hasn’t played football for too long. He started midway through high school. Most players got their first taste in elementary school. He’s still learning the game. Once the true mastery starts to set in and he keeps adding more power to his frame, Amegadjie will become a force. The only question is where he ends up on the line. Left tackle is the most likely spot, but he also has experience at guard. If the Bears can’t afford to keep him off the field, it wouldn’t be a surprise if they shifted him there.
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. . . .but he still can’t run (doctor’s orders).
. . .and, he has such very long arms (36.125″).
[Which is so important — to Ryan Poles.]
So far, Kiran Amegadjie has shown himself to be a confident speaker.
So, there’s that.
This kid could be a steal and prove it by the end of this season, if it takes him that long. Think K Long combined with T Jenkins and you ger Kiran A.
Then we can expect with proper OL coaching he will become a solid starter?