Tag: Bears offensive tackle

Bears target QB, OT in new 2-round 2021 NFL mock draft

The 2020 NFL Draft just concluded over a month ago, but it’s never too early to start looking at 2021 mock drafts. Especially now that the Chicago Bears actually have a first-round pick for the first time in three years. At least, as of now. In …

The 2020 NFL Draft just concluded over a month ago, but it’s never too early to start looking at 2021 mock drafts. Especially now that the Chicago Bears actually have a first-round pick for the first time in three years. At least, as of now.

In Draft Wire‘s way-too-early 2021 NFL mock draft, Luke Easterling has the Bears targeting two specific offensive needs in quarterback and offensive tackle.

With Chicago’s first-round selection, Easterling has the Bears selecting Georgia quarterback Jamie Newman with the 14th overall pick. Newman is transferring from Wake Forest to Georgia, where his big-time arm and mobility should be fun to watch. Last year, Newman passed for 2,868 yards, 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

Bears general manager Ryan Pace swung and missed with the selection of Mitchell Trubisky, who now finds himself in the middle of a quarterback competition with veteran Nick Foles. If Foles ends up winning the starting job, he could be the bridge quarterback until the Bears bring in a young potential franchise quarterback, perhaps Newman.

Then with the Bears’ second-round pick, Easterling has Chicago drafting Clemson offensive tackle Jackson Carman with the 46th overall pick. Carman took over as the starting left tackle in 2019, where he played 798 snaps on 15 starts for the Tigers.

Chicago is financially strapped to both left tackle Charles Leno Jr. and right tackle Bobby Massie through at least 2021. They’d be wise to get a top offensive tackle prospect like Carman to build for the future.

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2020 NFL Draft: Bears select OTs Arlington Hambright, Lachavious Simmons in 7th round

Chicago wrapped up their 2020 NFL Draft class with a pair of offensive tackles in the seventh round.

There’s no denying that one of the Chicago Bears’ biggest needs heading into the 2020 NFL Draft was offensive line. And they waited until the seventh round to address it. With both picks.

Chicago wrapped up their 2020 NFL Draft class with a pair of offensive tackles in the seventh round, which brings some much-needed depth on the offensive line.

The Bears selected Colorado offensive tackle Arlington Hambright with the 226th overall pick and Tennessee State offensive tackle Lachavious Simmons

That ends the Bears draft class on a day where they added edge rusher Trevis Gipson, cornerback Kindle Vildor and wide receiver Darnell Mooney.

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5 things to know about new Bears OT Jason Spriggs

The Bears added depth at offensive tackle with the signing of Jason Spriggs. Get to know Chicago’s newest offensive lineman.

The Chicago Bears added depth to their offensive line with the addition of former second-round pick Jason Spriggs. Spriggs, who’s spent his career with the Packers, signed a one-year deal with Chicago on Friday.

While he certainly won’t be competing for a starting job, he’ll provide much-needed depth at a position that was a concern last season. While Spriggs hasn’t lived up to his second-round billing, perhaps new offensive line coach Juan Castillo can salvage some potential left in Spriggs.

Let’s get to know the Bears’ newest offensive lineman:

1. The Bears were interested in Spriggs in 2016 NFL Draft

Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via USA TODAY NETWORK

It doesn’t seem like a coincidence that the Bears are taking a chance on Spriggs considering general manager Ryan Pace was interested in the former Indiana Hooiser in the 2016 NFL Draft.

The Bears were looking at drafting Spriggs, but Packers general manager Ted Thompson traded up to snag him before Chicago could with the 48th overall pick. Instead of getting Spriggs, the Bears traded back and drafted interior offensive lineman Cody Whitehair with the 56th overall pick.

Considering Spriggs hasn’t lived up to his second-round billing — and Whitehair has earned a second contract — the Bears certainly got the better end of the deal.

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Bears have met with Houston OT Josh Jones twice ahead of NFL Draft

The Bears are showing interest in Houston OT Josh Jones, who they’ve met with at least twice ahead of the 2020 NFL Draft.

There are no shortage of roster needs for the Chicago Bears, especially on the offensive side of the ball. But perhaps one of Chicago’s biggest concerns is the offensive line, which has questions at both guard and tackle.

Houston offensive tackle Josh Jones is someone the Bears appear to be interested in, as they’ve met with him at least twice ahead of the NFL Draft later this month.

Jones had a private visit with Chicago before the coronavirus outbreak, and he recently met with them through FaceTime, according to Draft Wire’s Justin Melo.

The Bears have addressed offensive line this offseason with the addition of new offensive line coach Juan Castillo, as well as the free-agent signing of Germain Ifedi. While Ifedi played right tackle most of his four-year NFL career, he figures to compete for the vacant right guard spot.

While Charles Leno Jr. and Bobby Massie will be the starters at left tackle and right tackle, respectively, their future beyond 2020 isn’t as certain. If the Bears decided to part ways with Leno next offseason, they’d save $6.2 million in cap space with a dead-cap hit of $5.1 million. For Massie, the Bears would save $5.4 million in cap space with $3.9 million in dead money.

If the Bears target an offensive tackle in the NFL Draft, they’ll be building for the future. Jones is considered one of the top offensive tackles in this year’s draft class. Jones played mostly at left tackle during his collegiate career, and he’d figure to be the heir apparent to Leno should the Bears decide to part ways with him.

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