Left tackle has constantly been mentioned as a position the Chicago Bears want to address at some point in the 2025 draft. Most believe it almost has to happen at the 10th overall pick. History says finding a starting left tackle after the 1st round is incredibly difficult compared to other positions. The problem is if they do that, who will it be? Will Campbell and Armand Membou are the two names mentioned the most. However, the one who seems to be gaining traction by the day as the draft draws closer is Kelvin Banks.
There is probably a reason for this. Draft insiders tend to get their most accurate information in the week before things kick off. The fact Banks’ name surfaced so recently doesn’t feel coincidental. There are legitimate reasons to believe the Bears may like him more than people realize.
- He is the most experienced left tackle in the class
- High athletic ceiling
- No injury concerns
- Strength is his run-blocking
Banks has three years of starting experience against top college competition. He’s a good athlete, earning an 8.25 Relative Athletic Score. Unlike Ohio State’s Josh Simmons, he has no health issues. Lastly, his run-blocking is already a core strength of his game. For an offensive mind like Ben Johnson, that is a crucial point.
Kelvin Banks feels like he’s still unpolished.
Despite having three years of starting experience, most experts see a player who hasn’t yet mastered hand placement or balance. His struggles in the Georgia game last season reflected this. It leads to frequent lapses in pass protection. Can he fix it? The Bears may think they can. Dan Roushar is considered one of the best offensive line coaches in the game. He’s turned plenty of talented blockers into Pro Bowlers. If anybody can polish Kelvin Banks into what he should be, it’s Roushar. This is a case of a young player having the talent to be a franchise left tackle. It is that certain areas of his game leave questions.
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Banks draws comparisons to Christian Darrisaw, who also had questions about technique and focus coming out of college. He eventually began playing at a Pro Bowl level. If the Bears think Banks can follow that same trajectory, this pick makes sense.
