The Chicago Bears can’t be expected to operate in the draft as they have over the past three years. While GM Ryan Poles remains in charge, the team is breaking in a new coaching staff led by Ben Johnson. Poles has said the coaches will have a prominent voice in how the roster will be constructed moving forward. It is a safe assumption Johnson is considerably different as a talent evaluator from Matt Eberflus. That might be why it is unwise to make assumptions about how the top of the draft will unfold for the Bears in two months.
Insider Tony Pauline of Sportskeedia made that clear in his latest column. He acknowledged that the offensive line is an obvious area of focus for the Bears. However, he threw a wrinkle into the mix. The team will not be roped into selecting a player based purely on what position he plays. Poles and Johnson are committed to finding guys who fit what they want to do. If none of the offensive lineman available do that, they are prepared to shift their focus elsewhere.
Most, including yours truly, expect the Bears to take an offensive lineman with their first pick of the draft. In fact, in my post-Super Bowl mock draft, I had the team selecting Will Campbell of LSU. And while that is still a possibility, I’m told Chicago will take the player that best fits the system they intend to implement, so an offensive lineman is not an automatic. I’m also told Johnson will have a big say, though not the final say, on who the team ultimately selects.
This opens the door to several possibilities for the Chicago Bears.
If not an offensive lineman, the list of options at #10 narrows considerably. The most obvious direction would be a defensive lineman. They need another pass rusher to complement Montez Sweat, and many feel that this is one of the better defensive line groups in a long time. There is also the possibility they would consider Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty. Many see the Heisman finalist in the same vein as LaDainian Tomlinson—an absolute stud. Johnson loves to run the ball on offense, don’t forget.
There is even an outside chance they think about a tight end. Tyler Warren of Penn State is considered one of the top prospects in the entire class—a legitimate weapon in the passing game. If the Chicago Bears feel he can be a difference-maker, they may decide to go with him, even if they already have Cole Kmet. There is a strong probability that free agency will dictate how things unfold. One thing is clear. They won’t be pigeonholed into any singular direction.
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The Bears must address the OL or DL with their 1st round pick because there are only so many blue chip prospects available to significantly improve the lines. If you take a TE or RB in the 1st round, there’s no guarantee top OL or DL will be left to choose from in the 2nd round. The Bears could be forced to sign 2nd rate FA fillers for another year because they wasted the chance to upgrade the trenches.
Do it right. Load up with too talent like Philly has. It worked for them.
I would say that none of this really needed to even be stated. Of course they don’t plan to be pigeon holed into drafting a certain position. I doubt that is ever in any team’s master plan.
Four paragraphs for Erik to say the Bears will take the best player available. Thanks for that.