The Chicago Bears are out on the scouting trail again. GM Ryan Poles has already attended several games over the past week, many featuring potential quarterbacks in the 2024 draft. This shouldn’t be a surprise. Justin Fields is the unquestioned starter this season, but he still has much to prove. Poles is wise to keep his options open. However, quarterback isn’t the only position of need for this team. They still have several areas that could use upgrades. One is the interior offensive line.
While they added Nate Davis this off-season to take over at right guard, the Bears still have questions at left guard and center. They’d hoped Teven Jenkins was their possible long-term guy at left guard, but he continues to be unable to stay healthy. He is on Injured Reserve for the next month with a calf injury. Center isn’t much better. Lucas Patrick has his own health problems, and he’s been a backup for most of his career. So it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Bears keep close tabs on potential draft options next spring.
That might explain why they had three representatives at the Iowa-Iowa State game. While a showcase for several prospects, there is one who fits exactly what this team covets in a blocker.
Connor Colby looks precisely like a Chicago Bears guy.
He’s big, powerful, athletic, and plays with a nasty disposition. Draft experts already see a force in the ground game that made steady progress in pass protection last season. Now he’s finally settled at left guard after shifting between that and right tackle in 2023. Interest in him shouldn’t be a surprise. Few programs have been a bigger factory for offensive linemen over the past two decades than Iowa.
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- Marshal Yanda
- Bryan Bulaga
- Riley Reiff
- Brandon Scherff
- Austin Blythe
- James Daniels
- Tristan Wirfs
- Tyler Linderbaum
All had or are having quality NFL careers. Colby feels like another in that long assembly line. One of those Chicago Bears reps is likely Midlands area scout Drew Raucina. He has deep ties to Iowa. Undoubtedly, he’s been keeping Poles apprised of the young guard. Current projections have him going around the 4th round next year. If his play picks up where it left off at the end of last season, don’t be surprised if his name rises to somewhere in the top 50.
