The Chicago Bears haven’t tried to disguise their intentions ahead of the 2022 NFL draft. They’re hunting for more offensive line help. GM Ryan Poles made it his mission this offseason. He already signed former Packers center Lucas Patrick and attempted to pry Ryan Bates away from Buffalo. With three picks in the 2nd and 3rd rounds, he’ll have an opportunity to land somebody that might be able to play immediately.
One name that seems to have caught their attention is Cole Strange. Jacob Infante of Windy City Gridiron revealed the team met with the Tennessee-Chattanooga guard this past week. Though coming from a small school, Strange turned a lot of heads at the Senior Bowl, where he spent the better part of a week stonewalling defensive lineman. His mixture of attitude, violence, and technique was hard to ignore.
The #Bears have met with Chattanooga OL Cole Strange, per source.
Strange was a top performer at the Combine and Senior Bowl who dominated the FCS. Day 2 target with guard/center versatility, athleticism and a mean streak.
— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) April 16, 2022
What stands out even more, is his size.
Strange stands 6’6, which is pretty tall for a guard or center. Yet he’s only 301 lbs. This enables his notable quickness in space, picking off defenders on the move. He can maneuver a defender out of a running lane on one snap and then stall out their pass rush on the next. Multiple draft experts see high upside in Strange, even comparing him to the same player—former Packers and Browns center J.C. Tretter.
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Houston DL Logan Hall v UT-Chattanooga OL Cole Strange.#seniorbowl pic.twitter.com/yZJAXMoGZg
— Chase Goodbread (@ChaseGoodbread) February 2, 2022
Cole Strange is having a good week pic.twitter.com/KyRAqvsnqN
— Billy M (@BillyM_91) February 3, 2022
Cole Strange is an instinctual & versatile OL, playing across the line (LT/LG/C) at Chattanooga.
An explosive run-blocker and true athlete who gains ground easily and opens lanes for RBs, had a good week at Center at the Senior Bowl, and projects as an IOL.
NFL Comp: JC Tretter pic.twitter.com/HqVh8SPzcE— Luke Carr (TD4LC) (@LukeCarrNFL) March 2, 2022
The primary concerns with Strange center around his strength. They fear he may not have the power base to handle bigger NFL defensive linemen. While a valid point, the Chicago Bears may not see it as a serious issue compared to other teams. That is because of the new offense they plan to run. Luke Getsy’s outside-zone system demands quickness, intelligence, and technique more than pure power.
Strange is an excellent fit under those conditions. He plays the game with sharp awareness and doesn’t back down from anybody. He’s been known to talk trash and will play through the whistle every time. Precisely the type of player Poles wants up front.
