The Chicago Bears are doing everything they can to keep people guessing about their intentions in the upcoming draft. Yet it isn’t difficult to surmise their likely approach. It is plain as day that this team needs help in the trenches. With three picks in the first two rounds, GM Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson are almost sure to set aside two of them for the lines. It is merely a matter of what order they go in. Everything depends on which players they love and where those players are projected to go.
Greg Braggs Jr. of CHGO dropped some interesting knowledge on the situation. While he isn’t attuned to everything going on at Halas Hall, he did pick up on something interesting at the scouting combine. It sounds like multiple people in Lake Forest are big fans of Alabama guard Tyler Booker. Many consider him the best pure interior offensive lineman in the draft, which is an area the Bears have major needs.
Booker fits what this new Chicago Bears staff prefers.
Johnson and new head coach Dan Roushar seem to favor big, strong offensive linemen who are fundamentally sound. They don’t necessarily have to be the best athletes. If this holds true, then Booker is an obvious choice. He’s a massive human being at 6’4, 321 lbs, with 34-inch arms and 11-inch hands. He engulfs many of the defensive linemen he goes against. This is coupled with excellent power, often showcased in his ability to displace people in the run game. On top of that, he has a tremendous anchor in pass protection, making it almost impossible to bullrush him.
If the Chicago Bears aim to install that rushing offense Johnson used in Detroit, Booker is a natural fit. He could start immediately and anchor the left guard spot. His nasty mentality and violent disposition would also give the offense more teeth. The only concern is his athleticism. Booker isn’t known for great mobility. Any team that drafts him will have to accept this. If Braggs is correct, the Bears don’t seem concerned.
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Trade Caleb to the Giants for 3, 103 and 134 then trade back from 3 and get whomever the hell you want along with two day 3 rookie qbs to compete with Bagent for the starting gig. Surely between multiple first, second and third round picks to fill the multitude of holes on the roster, super HC/OC Ben could get us to the playoffs and beyond.
He is not a top 10 pick. If you trade down to mid to late teens and he is still there, sure, get him, but not at 10!
@Rocketrider Serious question: Why do you need an offensive guard to be a burner? Are you splitting him out wide to run go routes? For the CHI offense to work, the line simply cannot give up any pressure at all up the middle, and that requires offensive guards who excel in pass pro specifically. Last year’s season showed us what we can expect if QB1 doesn’t have a pocket clean enough to eat off and large enough to take short walks inside. It is a disaster. So the guards need to be elite, from day one, in pass protection. There… Read more »
No NFL O-lineman ever won a football game.
First-round picks of O-linemen must return “cornerstone” quality players (ProBowl starters with the expectation of 5-10 years of excellence).
“Playmakers” win NFL games; while “cornerstones” establish the team’s culture (identity).
Don’t forget this!
Booker is slow. Forget him. Membou from Missouri will be a much better player. Move Membou into RG next to Wright and that side of the line is set for the future. After the combine Booker will be falling. Could probably be had in the second round. Ideally the Bears trade back to around 15, get an extra pick and grab Membou. He’s bigger than Booker, way faster and more athletic and has great tape. He has an attitude like Jenkins. Likes to bury people.