All the focus of this next week is going to be on one question. What will the Chicago Bears do at quarterback? Everybody knows a move is coming. The smoke is thicker than ever. Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy aren’t committed to Andy Dalton beyond 2021. Everything is set up for some sort of big move at QB. Yet even as that dominates the news, the reality is the Bears have other positions they need to address. Other players they might like.
One such position according to the analytics group Football Outsiders is offensive tackle. In a column for ESPN, they pointed it out as one of the quieter needs for this team behind quarterback that must be addressed in this draft. The obvious focus for them will be on finding pass protectors for their (hopefully) future franchise passer. When they threw out two prospects who made sense, one was obvious and the other raised eyebrows.
“Any quarterback would benefit from improvements there, especially at tackle, where the team lost Bobby Massie and Rashaad Coward this offseason and where Massie, Coward and expected left tackle starter Charles Leno blew at least 3.2% of their pass blocks.
Prospects who might fit: Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech; Jalen Mayfield, Michigan“
There are a number of reasons this stands out.
Prior to a couple of months ago, people were convinced Mayfield would be a 1st round pick this year. Yet as the pre-draft process unfolded, it felt like his stock cooled significantly. Those who watched a tape tended to come away with the same assessment. He’s not ready. Mayfield started just 15 games in college and it shows. His technique can be rough at times and he has a lot of fundamental disciplines still to learn. Part of the problem was a high ankle sprain derailed his 2020 season after just two games. Really bad timing.
One thing they don’t question? His talent. Mayfield has size, power, and athleticism. He displays quick feet for a guy who is 330 lbs and shows explosive burst in the run game. If that weren’t enough, he also has that nasty finisher mentality coaches tend to love. This is the sort of blocker who can be a stud in the NFL if his head catches up to his body.
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Chicago Bears have an inside advantage on Mayfield too
Prior to joining the Bears in 2020, offensive line coach Juan Castillo spent a year as an offensive analyst at Michigan. During that time, he had a chance to work with Mayfield a number of times. The tackle said he learned a lot from the Bears coach and was grateful for the brief months they had together. Such connections can mean a lot this time of year. Presuming Castillo likes the kid, there is a strong possibility he’d pound the table for him when the draft kicks off.
Current projections suggest Mayfield goes somewhere between the 2nd and 3rd rounds. Presuming the Chicago Bears save their 1st rounder for a quarterback, then it would make sense they’d make him a target on Day 2. Their situation is actually perfect for him. Charles Leno and Germain Ifedi are penciled in as starters at tackle this year. That would give him a year to sit and learn on the bench, fine-tuning his craft.
Then in 2022, they have their starting right tackle of the future.
One lingering concern with Mayfield is his length. Recent measurements have his arms at slightly under 33 inches. That would be considered too short for a lot of evaluators. The typical preference for NFL tackles is 34 inches. Are the Bears in that same category? If so, that would complicate matters. It’ll be interesting to see what happens on Day 2 if they don’t grab their tackle early.
