Peter Schrager reveals his shocking selection for the Chicago Bears

With the NFL Draft taking place in less than three weeks, many draft experts will start releasing the final edition of their mock drafts. One such expert is ESPN’s Peter Schrager.

He dropped his latest mock draft, one of two before the draft. And with it came a projection that will stir debate across Chicago: Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor to the Bears at No. 25.

Here is how Schrager described Proctor:

“Proctor is a mass of humanity. He weighed in at 358 pounds at his pro day — but he can move. If he keeps his weight down, Proctor has as much upside as any tackle in this class.”

The Bears do have a new need at left tackle, but would it make sense going with one at No. 25?

On the surface, it’s a move that fills a long‑term need at left tackle. Ozzy Trapilo’s injury and Braxton Jones’ inconsistency have created uncertainty at left tackle. But when you dig deeper, the pick raises real concerns. These include ignoring glaring defensive holes, the risks tied to Proctor’s massive frame, and the uncomfortable history of Alabama offensive tackles flaming out in the NFL.

Schrager is as connected as anyone in the industry. So for him to put Proctor at 25 seems legitimate. However, upside alone doesn’t erase the red flags — and the Bears have plenty of them to consider.

Kadyn Proctor could fill Chicago Bears’ need

First, there’s the issue of defensive neglect. Chicago finished 29th in total defense last season and still lacks a legitimate pass‑rushing threat opposite Montez Sweat. Passing on defensive linemen like Ohio State’s Kayden McDonald, Mizzou’s Zion Young, and Clemson’s TJ Parker, or safeties like Oregon’s Dillon Thieneman and Toledo’s Emmanuel McNeil‑Warren, if they are still available at 25, feels like a gamble. In fact, it borders on negligence.

Then there’s Proctor himself. Yes, he’s enormous. Yes, he moves well for his size. But at 6‑foot‑7 and 358 pounds, Proctor’s frame raises questions about leverage, conditioning, and long‑term durability. Those issues have derailed plenty of similarly built prospects in the past. Moreover, while Schrager praises his mobility, others note he may ultimately project better at guard. He is receptive to a move to guard. But it complicates the idea of drafting him as a blind‑side cornerstone.

And we can’t ignore the terrible history of Alabama’s offensive tackles in the NFL. For all the Crimson Tide’s success in producing NFL talent, their offensive tackles have a troubling track record of underperforming at the next level. Alex Leatherwood, Evan Neal, DJ Fluker, Jonah Williams, and Jedrick Wills Jr. were all first-round busts who never panned out.

The Bears fans might remember Leatherwood had a brief stint with the Bears back in 2022, after being released by the Las Vegas Raiders. And Willis Jr. recently signed with the Bears. Willis was a bust after being drafted 10th overall by the Cleveland Browns in 2020. He has not played a game in almost the last two years.

Whether it’s technique issues masked by college dominance, inflated measurables, the pattern is real enough that drafting another Alabama offensive tackle in Round 1 should give Chicago pause.

Schrager’s projection may be logical on paper. But with defensive needs screaming for attention, the Bears may be setting themselves up for another first‑round debate they didn’t need to have.

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