If you follow the breadcrumbs with less than two weeks to go before the NFL draft, you’re starting to notice a pattern emerge. Insiders are narrowing the predictions on what the Chicago Bears will do with their 1st round pick. At first, several positions were involved, including edge rusher, defensive tackle, offensive tackle, safety, and cornerback. However, since the end of the pro day circuit, those projections have narrowed to two. The most prominent insiders say it will be either an edge rusher or an offensive tackle. If we presume that Bears head coach Ben Johnson has the final say in this situation, he may have tipped the team’s hand.
Up until recently, the Bears had only met with one projected 1st round tackle. That was Max Iheanachor of Arizona State. History says you usually know which position a team will target early based on how many prospects from it they meet with. Three or more is a dead giveaway. Well, the Bears just took a big step in the left tackle direction with news that they’re bringing in Caleb Lomu from Utah. He’s considered one of the top tackles in the class and stands a good chance of being available when the Bears go on the clock.
Ben Johnson has specific desires for his draft picks.
We saw it with Colston Loveland, Luther Burden, and Ozzy Trapilo last year. Two criteria must be met. The player must be technically polished for his position and a standout athlete. Loveland was a great route runner coming out of Michigan and one of the most fluid tight ends in the class. Burden was an underrated technician who added explosive speed. Trapilo, while not an elite athlete, was above-average and coupled that with sound, polished fundamentals. You’ll quickly find Lomu checks both boxes.
He demonstrated his athletic prowess at the scouting combine with a 4.99 in the 40-yard-dash at 6’6″, 313 lbs. His 32.5-inch vertical jump also showcased his lower-body explosion. With two years of starting experience, you can see Lomu already has the posture, hand technique, and patience of a quality offensive lineman. He doesn’t panic, trusts his fundamentals, and is rarely caught off guard by blitzes or stunts. Throw in the fact that he’s so mobile, and you start to see why Johnson would like him. This offense needs athletic blockers for its zone running system to work. Lomu fits like a glove.
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There is one sticking point.
While Lomu is a good fit, he’s not a finished product. Most evaluators agree that he is underpowered. He doesn’t generate great movement in the running game or show an ability to stall power rushers. It is felt he must work to improve his upper-body strength before he reaches his full potential as a left tackle. This would hinge on both his willingness to work on the problem and the team’s confidence in their strength and conditioning staff to get him there. Having a top-30 visit would help answer the first part.
Ben Johnson knows what to look for in prospects and knows what questions to ask. He grilled Loveland last year ahead of the draft, not being shy about pushing him. The tight end passed with flying colors. Lomu can expect much the same during his visit. The Bears head coach wants to know how serious he is about football. Is it his job or his passion? It all matters. Some have questioned Lomu’s finisher mentality. Everything will be addressed ahead of the draft in two weeks.
