The Chicago Bears have priorities going into the NFL draft. Only they know for sure what the exact order is. One can basically surmise most of the top five are on the offensive side of the football. GM Ryan Pace knows the reason his team went 8-8 last season was because his offense couldn’t score. They finished 27th in that regard. A big key to that failure was the blocking up front.
Pretty much across the board save for Cody Whitehair was bad in 2019. Perhaps the biggest surprises were tackles Charles Leno and Bobby Massie. Both struggled on the field and Massie’s issues deepened when he ended up on IR. The future of those two beyond 2020 has become murky. Combine that with a loaded draft class at the position, it’s hard not to think Pace might be seeking a new long-term option.
If one were to follow the breadcrumbs lately, it seems like the Bears are zeroing in on Houston left tackle Josh Jones.
Josh Jones certainly fits the Chicago Bears profile
What makes this so funny is that NFL.com did a scouting report on Jones. Their pro comparison for him? That would be Bobby Massie. No doubt Pace saw those same similarities. Given how well the veteran tackle has played for them (when healthy) it would only make sense he’d have interest in a young player who has many of the same qualities.
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The bigger question in this is whether Jones will even be available to pick. A lot of experts are projecting him to go somewhere in the bottom half of the 1st round. Despite his somewhat raw fundamentals, his size and athleticism are hard to ignore. When he’s on his game, he can bully defenders. Teams will see that potential and be willing to take a chance on it.
Then again, this is the draft. Crazy stuff happens all the time. If nothing else, it proves Pace is on the hunt for tackle help.
