It’s December in Chicago. That means the Chicago Bears aren’t in the playoff hunt and it’s time to start looking ahead to the 2025 NFL Draft.
Winter has been more about mock drafts than playoff scenarios in Chicago for far too long. The seven-game losing streak that has seen offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and coach Matt Eberflus lose their jobs has also put the Bears squarely in last place, which allows us to turn our attention to Dane Brugler’s mock draft 1.0.
Last year’s mock drafts consistently had the Bears taking Caleb Williams at No. 1. The fun came at No. 9. The eventual pick, Rome Odunze, was a popular option in mocks through the winter.
When Brugler wrote his initial mock, the Bears had the 11th pick. They’ve moved into the top 10.
With a clear need on the offensive line to help Williams, get ready for several months in which we talk about arm length, pass sets, maulers and other pass protection lingo.
Here’s a breakdown of Brugler’s first Bears pick of Mock Draft Season.
The pick (No. 11): Kelvin Banks Jr., OT/G, Texas
Brugler’s breakdown: “Whether you like him best at tackle or guard (NFL teams are split), Banks is a quality offensive lineman because of his ability to maintain leverage and create force through his body mechanics. He spends too much time on the ground, but the tools are there for him to become an immediate NFL starter.”
How would Banks fit?
Just about every mock draft over the next four months figures to have the Bears taking a lineman in Round 1, either offensive or defensive. Banks’ versatility is a benefit because we don’t know yet which spots will be open, but we do know upgrades are needed.
Williams has been sacked on 11.4 percent of his pass attempts, which is ahead of only Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis. He’s been sacked an astounding 56 times, which is 15 more than C.J. Stroud. Williams needs to be sacked 21 times in the final four games to break David Carr’s all-time record. That would be a dubious distinction for a team run by a former offensive lineman in general manager Ryan Poles. Anyone who can improve the protection will be welcomed. The run game has also dropped off. It’s 23rd in the league in yards per carry.
Banks missed the first start of his career last week as an ankle injury kept him out of the SEC title game. Otherwise, he’s been a stalwart for a very good offense and a team with national championship aspirations. The Bears need good players. They could also use good players with a winning pedigree.
Kelvin Banks Jr. is a finalist for the Outland Trophy!
The trophy is awarded to the best college football interior lineman 🤘@Kelvinbanksjr12 x @outlandtrophy pic.twitter.com/24P2IrbVGk
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) November 26, 2024
How would it affect the depth chart?
Right tackle Darnell Wright is probably the only player on the offensive line who we can say with pretty good certainty will be starting in 2025. A new coach and offensive scheme could alter the type of offensive linemen the Bears seek. If you’re to believe that Poles’ job isn’t guaranteed, that’s another challenge in any projections.
According to ESPN’s metrics, left tackle Braxton Jones is fifth in the league in “run block win rate.” He’ll be entering the final year of his rookie contract, and though overall he’s been solid, it’s not like he’s a Pro Bowler.
Interior linemen Teven Jenkins, Matt Pryor and Coleman Shelton are all set to be free agents. Ryan Bates is under contract for 2025. And the Bears do have third-round pick Kiran Amegadjie to consider when making plans for next season.
All the Bears have to do is look north to the Detroit Lions to see the benefit of pouring premium draft resources into the offensive line. In the last 15 drafts, the Bears have spent only three first-round picks on offensive linemen.
Who else was on the board?
At No. 12, the Miami Dolphins took Georgia safety Malaki Starks. Now, the Bears could use a safety, and Starks could be a fun chess piece for a secondary, but this might be too rich for someone who plays away from the ball.
The 14th pick is Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon, who led FBS interior linemen with 47 pressures. The Bears will have to think about how to bolster their pass rush in the draft. Anyone who can affect the quarterback will be in play in Round 1.
If the losing continues, who could be in play?
The Bears have moved up to ninth pick in the draft. Though it’s a motley crew of three-win teams ahead of them (Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, Titans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Carolina Panthers, New England Patriots), they will be underdogs in their remaining four games.
If they play like they did Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers, a 4-13 record is very possible.
LSU’s Will Campbell is Brugler’s top offensive lineman. He went fourth in the mock draft. Four defensive linemen were slotted in the top 10: Penn State’s Abdul Carter, Georgia’s Jalon Walker and Mykel Williams and Michigan’s Mason Graham.
The surefire way to keep building the Bears offense properly and support Williams is to load up on blue-chip offensive linemen. But watching Brock Purdy sit in the pocket and find open receivers with ease served as a reminder the defensive line needs help, too.
(Photo: Steve Roberts / Imagn Images)
