The 2020 Chicago Bears draft class has become quite a revelation this season. One must remember GM Ryan Pace had no 1st round pick at his disposal. It marked the second straight year this was the case. A byproduct of the Khalil Mack trade two years ago. So he was going to have to do some pretty strong work in order to find contributors for this season.
All things considered, fans should be pleased with the results. Halfway through the season, the class has produced three starters. Jaylon Johnson has stood out the most. The cornerback out of Utah is the highest-rated rookie at his position with 10 passes defended and allowing just a 50% completion rate. Then there’s Cole Kmet. The top pick hasn’t become a premium passing game target yet but he’s emerged as probably their best blocker at the position.
Then there’s Darnell Mooney.
Nobody knew much about the 5th round pick out of Tulane when he arrived. All they knew was he apparently had some speed, running a 4.38 at the combine. It didn’t take long to realize the kid had skills far beyond that. He’s now the second-leading receiver on the team with 305 yards and two touchdowns. Not a bad array of contributions from a class people had such low expectations for.
Now though it appears those three will have some company. A fourth rookie is set to get his first start of the season for the Bears. He being Arlington Hambright. A tackle out of Colorado, he was selected in the 7th round back in April. Up until now, he’s been inactive on gamedays. According to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, that will change on Sunday in Tennessee.
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Here is Arlington Hambright, the rookie 7th round pick from Colorado expected to start at left guard Sunday. pic.twitter.com/etnVq6aerd
— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) November 4, 2020
Ryan Pace could come out looking even better soon
Hambright caught the attention of the Bears both with his strong tape but also his impressive 4.98 in the 40-yard dash at 6’3, 307 lbs. An impressive time for somebody that size. Definite confirmation he’s an athlete. Bears scout David Williams said he had the sort of bend and upside the team looks for. Not to mention an underrated amount of power.
Given his size though, it was always likely he’d end up at guard. Nobody expected it to happen this fast. Hambright was just an emergency option. Well, the emergency has come to pass. After losing James Daniels to a torn pec, the Bears have since lost Cody Whitehair and Bobby Massie to injuries as well. If that weren’t bad enough, Jason Spriggs was knocked out by COVID-19.
This necessitated the move of Rashaad Coward to right tackle.
That is what opened up the spot at left guard. What’s interesting is most people wouldn’t have expected Hambright to be the first choice. That would be Alex Bars, their second-year backup. It’s not certain what is going on with him. Either he’s hurt or in the doghouse of the Bears’ coaching staff. Either way, his loss is the rookie’s gain.
Hambright is playing with house money on Sunday. Nobody expects much from him. Why should they? He’s being thrust into the starting lineup on short notice against a pretty good Titans front featuring Jeffery Simmons and Jadeveon Clowney. If he performs well? It not only raises his own profile in the building, but also that of the GM who drafted him in Ryan Pace.
