Anybody that has followed the NFL draft for long enough knows it isn’t an exact science. Good players fall through the cracks every single year. That is why good luck is required for a successful draft by teams just as much as good evaluations. If the Chicago Bears will have a productive weekend under new GM Ryan Poles, they’ll need some help from the rest of the league by passing on several good players. That is the price of not having a 1st round pick.
The obvious question fans have is which names may or may not fall out of the top 32. Everybody has their opinions, and they often vary. Yet one notable name has suddenly stood out as a growing possibility to fall. Benjamin Allbright of KOA Colorado is one of the best NFL insiders. He releases one mock draft every year, and it is often among the most accurate in predicting where players land in the 1st round. Or if they land there at all. Mock Draft Database tagged him as the 7th-most accurate over the past three years.
Our 2020 second place finisher, @AllbrightNFL, with his final mock of 2022!
Ben is currently ranked #7 overall in 3 year average #MockDraft accuracy. Definitely one to keep an eye on! https://t.co/bkNAE3bWRG
— The Mock Draft Database (@mockdraftdb) April 27, 2022
That is worth noting with his recent release of the mock.
According to him, Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum will not go in the 1st round. This is after literal months of draft experts everywhere believing there was no way this was possible. He is far and away the best center in the draft. Yet Allbright isn’t the only one saying this. Josh Norris of Underdog Network, the most accurate mock drafter of the past three years, said the same thing last week. There is a realistic chance Linderbaum falls to the 2nd round, which should greatly interest the Bears.
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"On most zone runs if the play stays frontside it'll be a good run, when plays bend to the backside, those are HOME RUNS."
– @SaturdayJeff on Linderbaum's special ability to elevate a run game.
Full film room: https://t.co/J7WEs5Zvzx pic.twitter.com/en9TquITnd
— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) April 27, 2022
Tyler Linderbaum is an elite center prospect and overall top 20 guy. Don't overthink this. pic.twitter.com/Cix3fQUD8E
— Mike (@bengals_sans) April 25, 2022
Watch my guy seal off 3 defenders like they're Tupperware.
If Tyler Linderbaum is available at #31 the #Bengals HAVE to take him. pic.twitter.com/Qp9y8JGZux
— Reese Jones (@PotPharma) April 26, 2022
There is always a reason certain players fall. For Linderbaum, the explanation isn’t hard to grasp. He is small for an offensive lineman at 6’2, 296 lbs, and 31-inch arms. Many teams in today’s NFL place a premium on size and length. Smaller blockers tend to get pushed around too often. Yet that didn’t stop NFL.com from ranking him their 3rd-best overall lineman in the entire 2022 class. Lancie Zielein sees him as the second-coming of Philadelphia Eagles Pro Bowler Jason Kelce. Another guy who fell in the draft because he was considered too small.
Chicago Bears should be salivating for Linderbaum.
It isn’t just because of his elite athleticism, crisp technique, and tough-as-nails mentality. He is also a picture-perfect fit for their new offense. Luke Getsy is bringing the outside-zone system with him from Green Bay. Historically, the offense places great demand on offensive linemen to be smart and mobile. They have to be able to operate well in space. Nobody in this draft is better in those scenarios than Linderbaum.
Drafting him would create a conundrum for the team. Remember, they signed Lucas Patrick in free agency to become their new center. The Chicago Bears would have to figure out what to do with him if they landed Linderbaum in the 2nd round. It shouldn’t be a huge issue. Patrick has plenty of experience at guard. He started several games in 2020 at right guard. The team could easily slide him to that spot, allowing the rookie to take over in the middle.
Two problems get solved with one pick.
It is important to remember the odds remain low. Even if Linderbaum falls out of the 1st, he’d still have to get past six more draft slots before the Bears can snag him. It’s unlikely Poles would trade up for him, given his lack of picks. Still, the possibility is appearing far greater with each passing hour.
