Chicago Bears: Top college OL a favorite in mock drafts

With their disappointing season in the rear view the Chicago Bears focus now turns to the NFL Draft.

With such a disappointing season now behind the Chicago Bears, whose season started out with so much promise, now enter the offseason looking to get better. The biggest question the Bears need to figure out this offseason will be: who will be their next Head Coach? However, there’s a second question that the Chicago Bears will have to answer, who will be their first round pick in this years draft?

Who will the Chicago Bears select?

The Bears have the tenth pick in this years NFL Draft after drafting their franchise Quarterback Caleb Williams with the first overall pick last year. According to experts they predict that the Bears will draft an Offensive Lineman given they have four open spots with right tackle Darnell Wright having a job for next season according to Alyssa Barbieri of Bears Wire.

Two linemen have emerged as the frontrunners to be the Chicago Bears pick to help provide the needed projection for Caleb Williams. They are LSU’s Offensive Tackle/Guard Will Campbell and Texas Longhorns Offensive Tackle Kelvin Banks Jr.

OT/G Will Campbell LSU

According to four sources the Chicago Bears will most likely take Will Campbell with their tenth pick. Jordan Reid of ESPN wrote about why Campbell would be a good choice for the Bears to make by writing:

“After a humbling season, the Bears’ concerns again center around an inconsistent offense. They finished this season with the worst sacks per dropback rate in the NFL (10.3%), so offensive line should be their top priority. Campbell would be a massive boost for a unit that needs multiple new starters. A consistent technician, the 6-foot-6, 323-pound Campbell is a polished blocker who can step in as a Day 1 starter at either tackle or guard and help protect Caleb Williams.”

The Monroe, Louisiana native being a “polished blocker” is exactly what the Bears offense needs with them ranking at the bottom of the NFL in most major offensive categories. Having a solid blocker to provide protection for Caleb Williams for the pass game would be valuable as well with Williams being a superb talent at throwing the football.

The Athletics Kevin Fishbain thinks that the two time first-team All-SEC selection will start day one if selected by the Bears with stating:

“Campbell could start from Day 1 at left tackle or inside. Left tackle Braxton Jones will be returning from injury and entering the last year of his rookie deal. Despite his solid play when healthy, the Bears can’t go into 2025 handing anyone a starting job up front — except for right tackle Darnell Wright.”

Texas OT Kelvin Banks Jr.

Another choice that the Chicago Bears could figure to take with their tenth pick is Texas’s Offensive Tackle Kelvin Banks Jr., who is small for his size for a tackle at 6’4”, but packs a punch. Very athletic with a solid technique Pro Football Focus’ Trevor Sikkema writes of Banks Jr. describing him for being a fit for the Chicago Bears as being:

flawlessly in Chicago, which seems to have more solidified talent at the tackle spots. His athletic ability is very impressive and provides him with a high ceiling, and he earned 86.8 and 88.0 PFF pass-blocking grades over the past two years.”