It’s time for the Bears to use a premium draft pick for an offensive tackle.
Maybe it’s long overdue. Former general manager Ryan Pace used a second-round pick in 2021 for Teven Jenkins, who started his career as a left tackle but is now a guard.
In 2013, Phil Emery defeated Kyle Long in the first round. Long was a Pro Bowler on the alert and in right tackle in 2015, but his home was on the inside.
The last time the Bears drafted a real tackle in the first round? Gabe Carimi in 2011.
Every time quarterback Justin Fields had to immediately try to dodge pressure off the edge last season, it was a reminder that one of the most important positions in football requires a long-term response.
With a general manager in Ryan Poles and an assistant GM in Ian Cunningham, both playing college offensive line, and a wave of free hands that didn’t result in the Bears landing an opening tackle, everything points to the opportunity , to pick one in the NFL draft later this month.
Last week, Poles was asked about the right tackle and if the Bears could still find a starter on the loose at property meetings in Phoenix.
“When you get to that point of free agency, it falls off,” he said. “Salaries are going down, talent, experience are going down. They’ve got a wave of players on offense and defense who’re going to be going through the draft because they kind of want to see how things pan out. So we will keep an eye on these players.
“But right now, to improve our team, I think we need to look at the draft.”
When the Poles traded the No. 1 pick to the Panthers to be relegated to No. 9, he put the Bears in a better draft position to take one of the top tackle prospects. With three picks from #54 to #64, he also has the flexibility to move around Thursday or Friday night of the draft to find a starting tackle.
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The Bears could go forward with Braxton Jones as a left tackle and design a starting right tackle. They could also flip Jones to the right and play with a rookie in left tackle for the second year in a row. Poles was adamant about positional flexibility and starting the top five linemen.
Using Dane Brugler’s top 100, there are four offensive tackle prospects in the top 24. Colleagues Nick Baumgardner and Diante Lee, along with a couple of NFL scouts, offer their insights as we take a closer look at the tackles the Bears could consider strengthening their offensive line.
Top OT prospect measurements
| player | Height | Weight | weapons |
|---|---|---|---|
6-4 | 313 | 32 1/4 | |
6-6 3/8 | 313 | 36 1/8 | |
6-5 3/8 | 311 | 34 3/4 | |
6-5 3/8 | 333 | 33 3/4 |
Sporty tests with top OT prospects
| player | 40 | 10-yard split | vert | Broad | 3 cone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5.16 | 1.70 | 34.5 | 9’7″ | 5.95 | |
N / A | N / A | N / A | 9’2″ | N / A | |
4.97 | 1.67 | 30 | 9’0″ | N / A | |
5.01 | 1.75 | 29 | 9’7″ | N / A |
Peter Skoronski, Northwest (No. 6)
It seemed almost too perfect for the Maine South and Northwest product to enter the draft as the top offensive lineman when the Hometown Bears need one.
On the other hand, Skoronski is a Packers fan since he is the grandson of Bob Skoronski, a former Packers center.
“There aren’t many controllable weaknesses in his game because he’s the top lineman in this class,” Baumgardner said.
Lee said, “Skoronski is the cleanest tackle rating in the 2023 NFL Draft.”
When asked to highlight strengths, Baumgarder remarked on Skoronski’s feet, which are “superb and not only help him with his passing sets and general mirroring, but his agility and general body control make him a really effective second run blocker.”
And then there’s Skoronski’s intelligence.
“In terms of IQ,” Baumgardner said, “he’s a very solid lineman who knows how to use his hands while maintaining a solid depth of protection.”
Replacing first-round pick Rashawn Slater as a true freshman in 2020, Skoronski was an instant star, protecting the blind side for the Big Ten West champions. He continued to climb the ranks over the next two years, even as Northwestern’s offensive faltered. Everyone could see that he was a technician. Then at the combine he showed that he is also an athlete.
This is where the “perfect” narrative falls apart. Skoronski’s arms are short for a tackle, over three inches shorter than the Bears’ current starter in the left tackle.
One scout noted that among first-round prospects, Skoronski is “as safe as can be” but is “probably a guard” at best at the next level.
“However, his arm length is a legitimate concern and he’s not a strong blocker,” Lee said.
Baumgardner also addressed Skoronski’s lack of length and how his playing strength would hold up against the game’s “powerhouse edges”.
Despite this, he is Baumgardner’s pick as the best player for the Bears.
“He’s a phenomenal athlete and you can get around his length,” said Baumgardner. “He would be a great cornerstone for Justin Fields in Chicago.”
On the tackle rankings, another scout said he would put Skoronski over Broderick Jones, but if the Bears want to find a left (or right) tackle of the future, he would put Skoronski second behind Paris Johnson.
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Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio State (No. 12)
As a right guard in 2021, Johnson switched to tackle last season and was a first-team All-American. Johnson was also a two-time OSU Scholar athlete.
Immediately, hitting Skoronski becomes Johnson’s strength – his size.
“He’s a massive person who moves like a tight end at 6-6, 313,” Baumgardner said. “His length and overall athletic flex are both elite, as is his overall agility in both pass protection and running play. Physically, there are no questions about Johnson’s game – his ceiling could be the highest in this group.”
Lee called Johnson “the athletic prototype of this class”. While he wasn’t running the 40 or doing the three-cone drill, he did the long jump on his pro day.
“He can be a finisher on doubles teams, as a kick-out blocker to get wing-backs out of the way, and use his length and agility to handle all sorts of pass-rushing approaches,” Lee said.
One of the reasons someone of Johnson’s build and skills isn’t a surefire top 10 pick is their level of experience, or lack thereof.
“Johnson has only started a year of highly competitive ball-at-tackle,” Baumgardner said. “He was a guard before, which speaks well for his versatility, but he doesn’t get paid to play indoors. Technically, his game still has far too many issues – particularly his footwork.
Lee said: “It might not be an instant hit – Johnson still needs some refinement with his feet and the angles he gives to pass Rusher. His physical ability allows him to recover but the margins will be significantly smaller for him at the next level.”
Of the four offensive tackles, Lee chose Johnson as the top pick for the Bears’ scheme, with the athletic profile complementing Jones on the other end.
“Johnson can be a perennial Pro Bowl talent (or better) and with the way Chicago builds offense, he’s not going to be left on an island in pass protection more than 40 times a game, which will help him develop to develop properly. ” he said.
A scout agreed, saying he would pick Johnson out of that group because he was the “better athlete.”
Georgia’s Broderick Jones is known for his bully ball, which could make him an interesting target for the Bears. (Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Broderick Jones, Georgia (#15)
On Braxton Jones’ mock drafttable page, Broderick Jones is his #1 comp, the offensive tackle with the most similar characteristics.
Aside from his athletic profile, Jones also seems to be the type of player who would excel in Matt Eberflus’ “HITS” program (rush, intensity, takeaways, smart play) and inject some “evil” into his game, some Polesian values in his offensive linemen.
“Jones is a tackle you would pick to send a message about his style of play – face-off ball shapes his game,” Lee said.
Lee went on to call Jones a “punisher” who is “out to bury pass rushers when he gets bogged down.” For a coaching staff that values finishing games, they should buy in right away.
Then there’s the athletics.
Three of the four offensive linemen poles collected last year had a 10-yard split that was 1.70 seconds or faster. Jones has the fastest 10-yard split of the foursome. It would also have been the fastest of any offensive lineman in the combine.
“He’s an outstanding athlete on his own and probably doesn’t get enough credit for that, but his power – and how he plays in the running game, with a downward slope – is his main event,” Baumgardner said. “He can be penalized at the line of scrimmage or in space.”
A scout said Jones had “good feet, length and speed. Needs technique work with his hands and base.”
Lee said Jones needs to work on his finesse to win his matchups against the Top Edge Rushers, which could limit his cap.
Baumgardner said: “He’s not that consistent with his pass protection or his general finishing. It can look outstanding, or it can be a touch. He can get a lot better with his hand placement. A guy that strong should have a better plan with his hands.”
Another scout called Jones an “outstanding athlete” who has “a long way to go but a lot of potential.”
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Darnell Wright, Tennessee (No. 24)
Only three offensive tackles in this draft class outperformed Broderick Jones. Directly above him is Wright.
The Bears wouldn’t pick Wright for 9th place. He’s probably best as a right tackle, which could make him a good fit if they’re looking to keep Braxton Jones on the left.
“Tackle more on the right than on the left,” said a scout. “Physical boy, good feet. I think (No.) 9 would be rich for him.”
The scout also noted Wright’s weight, which is slightly heavier than the Bears’ profile, and wondered if he would be better suited to a gap scheme than Chicago’s outer zone.
Wright would be a more realistic option if the Poles traded down from 9th place or if he traded up and into the bottom of the first round.
“I’m not sure we’ve seen him play his best ball yet and if he gets there he could be the best OT in this class,” Baumgardner said. “He was a five-star prospect who needed a bit of strength in college to tone his body. It’s been a slow buildup for Wright in Tennessee, but he’s a great, powerful athlete who’s blossomed into a great right tackle prospect.
At the Senior Bowl, Wright was doing reps down the left side and it wasn’t promising. You could see a team looking at their athletic ability and trying to make it work there, but that could be difficult.
“If he goes somewhere and is asked to be a blindside protector,” Baumgardner said, “it could be an adventure.”
That could be fine with the Bears, whether it’s Wright or even Skoronski, if they find a proper tackle with Braxton Jones long-term. It comes down to how Poles weigh up the value as we approach the design.
(Top Photo by Paris Johnson Jr.: Michael Reaves/Getty Images)