Anybody with common sense knows the Chicago Bears are virtually guaranteed to attack the offensive line once the 2024 season is over. Caleb Williams has already been sacked 29 times in eight games. If this team wants to make him a success in the NFL, that cannot be allowed to continue. GM Ryan Poles has avoided using a lot of high draft picks aside from Darnell Wright through the first three off-seasons. Expect that to change in a big way next April. Drafting the possible next Trey Smith would be a great way to start.
For those who don’t know, Smith is one of the best guards in the NFL, helping the Kansas City Chiefs win each of the previous two Super Bowls. Adding somebody of that caliber would be an instant boost for the Bears. According to Ryan Fowler of Bleacher Report, they are a perfect fit for the 2025 prospect, who is the spitting image of Smith.
Reminds Me Of: Trey Smith
What Donovan Jackson did in Week 10 won’t draw headlines, but it showcased how special of an offensive line prospect he is.
The Buckeyes’ front five entered their matchup with Penn State down multiple bodies at different spots. Jackson, a future high pick at guard, bumped out to left tackle to protect quarterback Will Howard’s blind side.
Jackson, who accrued 1,963 consecutive snaps at left guard prior to Week 10, was impressive throughout the afternoon. It’s tough bouncing from guard to tackle, let alone looking across the line at Abdul Carter, whom Jackson was asked to stymie.
Potential NFL Fits: Chicago Bears
If Jackson is another Trey Smith, that is a no-brainer.
Not only is he a physical, nasty blocker in the run game, but he has the athleticism and intelligence to handle pass protection as well. Jackson also comes from an established program that has regularly churned out quality offensive linemen for years. Corey Linsley, Taylor Decker, Josh Myers, Dawand Jones, and Paris Johnson are some of the more recent examples. He has played against some of the best competition in the country. The same was true of Trey Smith when he attended Tennessee.
Current projections have Jackson ranked as a Day 2 pick, meaning he goes somewhere in the 2nd or 3rd rounds. That fits the Bears just fine. They have three picks in that range, meaning they could land Jackson and still have two more cracks at other positions of need.
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Poles likes big, athletic dudes. This player is right up his alley. Don’t forget he played a big part in drafting Smith for Kansas City in 2021.
Don’t they need a center? Don’t they need a coach?
JD has been projected to go in the 2nd round for the last two years. He is a guard, so unless a team really needs one, he could go in the 3rd round. If he did well at OT against my soon to be Steelers’ guy, OLB/DE Abdul Carter, then he might go early 2nd. If not good, then in the last half of the 2nd round. Can he hold his own against Michigan’s DL in a game? Or compete with the 5-6 SEC larger guards in the draft? I would be surprised if he went in the 1st round… Read more »
“Ian… in the offseason” are the sweetest words you’ve ever said, @jmscooby.
I was looking at the ‘25 FA pool. From the looks of it, it might be better to buy our OL. I’m not against drafting someone. But we could use our picks on DL or other needs.
Trey Smith was a 6th round pick, and was a teammate of Velus and Wright at Tennessee, IIRC. Glen Elarbee, the OL coach at UT, has some cred, and might be worth Ian looking at him in the offseason.