Having only four picks in the draft means the Chicago Bears will need some luck to have a solid class. Thankfully, two of those picks were in the top 10. One was quarterback Caleb Williams, and the other was wide receiver Rome Odunze. Most experts had both of them ranked in the top five of the entire class. If they pan out as expected, it won’t matter how many picks the Bears did or didn’t have. That said, GM Ryan Poles’ job isn’t finished. He will be on the clock again at the 75th overall pick on Friday night.
That slot has been a good one for teams in the past few years. New Orleans got Terron Armstead there. Russell Wilson went to Seattle there. Two-time Super Bowl champion Max Starks went there. History shows there will be talented players available at that spot. It comes down to which direction GM Ryan Poles wants to go. Here are several names who could be on the board.
The Chicago Bears should have a small cluster of good players available.
Ruke Orhorhoro (DT, Clemson)
Size? Length? Power? Quickness? Orhorhoro has it all. He was consistently productive in college, with at least eight tackles for a loss in three straight seasons and 11.5 sacks. The scary part is he’s still relatively unpolished due to having to share reps throughout college. His ceiling as an interior pass rusher is astronomical.
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Michael Hall Jr. (DT, Ohio State)
The interior pass rush is the lynchpin to anybody who runs the Tampa-2 defense like Matt Eberflus. Hall never entirely produced a lot for the Buckeyes, but it’s evident he wasn’t used to his full potential while there. He’s quick, explosive, and has the violent hands necessary to create havoc for guards and centers.
Austin Booker (EDGE, Kansas)
You’re likely not drafting finished products in the 3rd round, so there will be some projection involved. That said, Booker doesn’t have the muscle mass for the NFL yet, but he’s a tremendous athlete with good length who flashed elite potential with a breakout 2023 that included eight sacks and 12 tackles for a loss. The fact he’s drawing comparisons to Maxx Crosby should tell you something.
Adisa Isaac (EDGE, Penn State)
The Chicago Bears love players who are leaders, have high motors, and size. Isaac checks all of those boxes. His teammate, Chop Robinson, might be the better athlete, but Isaac has the NFL body. He’s also utterly relentless. Tackles get tired of him in a hurry. His 27 tackles for a loss and 11.5 sacks over the past two years suggest he has a lot to offer any team who gets him.
Zach Frazier (C, West Virginia)
Center is the only position left on the Bears’ roster that hasn’t been thoroughly addressed. Ryan Bates may hold the job for now, but good options remain available. Frazier is a four-time state wrestling champion with brawling power and good mobility. He loves to mix it up inside and has more than enough experience to start right away if necessary.
Hunter Nourzad (C, Penn State)
The Bears covet athleticism and power in their linemen. Nourzad has both, and he is also good-sized for his position. He boasts a strong anchor, polished technique, and solid body control in pass protection. The primary issue that has held him back is learning to recognize complex pressure packages. Chicago should be able to help him with those issues.
Kiran Amegadjie (OT, Yale)
Poles and his scouts have paid lots of attention to the Ivy League standout for months. It’s not hard to see why. Amegadjie has a 6’5, 323 lbs frame with 36-inch arms. He moves way better than somebody that size should. When his technique is right, nobody gets past him. Best of all, he’s a mauler in the run game.
Jaden Hicks (S, Washington State)
To play defensive back for the Chicago Bears, you must be willing to do two things: tackle and force turnovers. Hicks demonstrated a willingness and ability for both. He loves to play downhill and strike ball carriers. His three interceptions and forced fumble over the past two years also showcase his instincts and ball skills.
Ben Sinnott (TE, Kansas State)
While the team appears to be positioned at tight end with Cole Kmet and Gerald Everett, it could still use more depth. Sinnott is the kind of big, athletic player who is in vogue these days. He has good speed and route-running prowess and understands how to find open space. The goal should be to get him to play with more of an edge.
Blake Corum (RB, Michigan)
He was the beating heart of Michigan’s national championship run. Corum is tough, strong, hard to bring down, and displays good vision to find the running lanes. He will wear opponents out over the course of a game. Khalil Herbert only has one year left on his contract. Corum would be an ideal long-term replacement.
“Bears GM, Ryan Poles is an inept judge of NFL talent, proficiency and value.”
Let’s see how that statement ages when Poles is selecting in the mid-twenties of the NFL drafting order.
We already know he doesn’t value picks after the fourth round (it’s even been reported that Braxton Jones was “selected” by someone other than Poles).
If we need to credit people (Ian Cunningham) with stopping the GM from surrendering to his impetuous tendencies– so be it.
“Time discovers truth.” — Seneca
@TGena: But then again, it was Poles that hired Ian Cunningham, right? So if Cunningham helped Poles do the right thing (given our 20/20 hindsight), then Poles is really the one who restrained himself by making a good hire. And, yet again, you’re on the “Poles picked this player in the 5th round and he’s not a clear Hall of Fame player, so Poles is a terrible judge of talent” train again. The Bears had a great first round of the draft. They were set up to have that great first round by a great trade that Poles made last… Read more »
@BearDownTX — Again, you miss the point. I don’t care about other position players selected by other teams — they are not Ryan Poles’ responsibility. Poles is an inept judge of NFL talent, proficiency and value. The names mentioned previously, are but a few of the Bears players that illustrate that point. Happily last night, Ryan Poles selected players that “everyone” knows are the “can’t miss” picks. But again, it has been revealed (by Ryan Poles’ own admission) that Ian Cunningham had to restrain Poles from his impetuous behavior; and the impulse to “trade up” for the right to draft… Read more »
@TGena – Can always count on you to throw out the negatives and little to no positives. Plus, you never quantify, you stat blast PFF bull sh*t and your own diluted opinions. Let’s take a look at the failures of Ryan Poles: Velus Jones (3rd rd)- There is one, maybe two, starting caliber WR taken after him in that entire draft class. And I think it’s more 1 than 2 Tyler Scott (end of 4th) – Again 1 maybe 2 guys better at the same position. Puka Nakua was a huge miss everyone missed on except the Rams, and they… Read more »
The key players for GM, Ryan Poles are Gervon Dexter Sr., and Zacch Pickens. If they become really good players Poles will have pretty done well as the Bears’ GM. Velus Jones Jr., Tyler Scott, Dominique Robinson, Trestan Ebner, Doug Kramer, Zachary Thomas, Ja’Tyre Carter, etc., etc., have not shown much. Not one is dependable nor a playmaker. Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze were “no-brainer” selections but I give Poles credit for not trying to “play genius” (although Poles has admitted Ian Cunningham held him back from unnecessarily trading up to get Rome). Can’t y’all see that Poles is still… Read more »