2021 NFL mock drafts are being published at a fast and furious pace, with NFL Network Bucky Brooks being the latest to add his first swing at a first-round projection.
For Bears fans, Brooks’ projection makes sense, even if the pick isn’t a headline-grabbing name.
At No. 20 overall, Chicago beefs-up the offensive line with USC’s Alijah Vera-Tucker.
“The USC product gives coach Matt Nagy options as a swing player (guard/tackle) to plug into the lineup to protect whoever is taking snaps for the Bears,” Brooks wrote of the pick.
Vera-Tucker’s positional versatility is part of what makes him such an attractive first-round prospect, and it’s especially true for teams like the Bears whose offensive line needs aren’t necessarily position-specific.
Chicago could use an upgrade at offensive tackle. They could use an infusion of toughness and strength at the interior spots too. Enter Vera-Tucker, who profiles as a plug-and-play starter at either guard or tackle.
Will Bears fans jump for joy at the thought of their first first-round pick in three years being a position-less offensive lineman? Probably not. But all that matters is how Chicago’s first-rounder upgrades the play on the field. And Vera-Tucker is the kind of prospect who will have an immediate impact on any offense he becomes a part of.