Bears could complete offensive-line overhaul in NFL Draft, especially if LSU's Will Campbell falls to them
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Even with general manager Ryan Poles predicting a “wild” NFL Draft, it’s still pretty simple. When the Bears’ spot comes up at No. 10 on Thursday, they’ll need to bolster the line of scrimmage.
Offensive tackle must be the top priority as Poles and new coach Ben Johnson overhaul the O-line. The Bears could be eyeing LSU’s Will Campbell, Missouri’s Armand Membou and Texas’ Kelvin Banks.
If they don’t love the options at that position when they pick, they could pivot to a defensive tackle or defensive end, but anything else would be a luxury pick for a team that isn’t exactly living lavishly after a 5-12 season.
The most talented and intriguing offensive lineman in the draft is Campbell, who’s emblematic of the unpredictability this year. He was an All-American last season, but nitpicking about his arm length — prompting some to say he’ll have to move to guard in the NFL — has led to analysts projecting him to go as high as No. 4 to the Patriots or to last all the way to the Bears’ spot.
The Bears talked extensively with Campbell leading up to the draft and put him through a private workout. They left no ambiguity about how they envision him as a pro.
“If they draft me, I’d play left tackle,” Campbell said Wednesday without hesitation as prospects volunteered at an event just outside Lambeau Field.
“I’ve heard it since I was 14 years old,” he said of the issue with his arm length, which measured 32∑ inches at the combine. “The school that I just went to said the same thing to me. I didn’t let it become a problem then, and I’m not going to now.”
While the offensive line has been a nagging problem in Poles’ four years running the Bears, so has the defensive line. The Bears have the fewest sacks and have allowed the fourth-most yards per carry during his tenure.
Poles could supply new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen with the defensive tackle Matt Eberflus always wanted. Perhaps Michigan standout Mason Graham will fall to the Bears at No. 10 if there’s a run on other positions early.
Graham told the Sun-Times he met with the Bears in person several times the last few months, including dinner at his pro day. Allen went over how he’d fit in the new defensive scheme.
He said the overall feedback from the Bears was, “I’m a dominant player, and I’ve shown it.”
NFL general managers tread as carefully as possible to avoid giving other teams a hint about their plans, but Poles tipped his hand slightly last month by mentioning he envied the defending champion Eagles for having “waves of pass rushers.”
If he’s trying to build out the Bears’ crew, drafting a defensive end would make sense even after signing free agent Dayo Odeyingbo to a three-year, $48 million contract to play opposite Montez Sweat.
Penn State’s Abdul Carter is the clear leader at the position and unlikely to slip out of the first five picks. Then it gets murky.
Prominent mock drafts have Texas A&M’s Shemar Stewart, who’s in Green Bay for the draft, going anywhere from No. 11 to No. 32. He could be second only to Carter or he could be deep on the list behind Georgia’s Jalon Walker and Mykel Williams, Marshall’s Mike Green, Tennessee’s James Pearce and others.
“They said if they draft me, I’d come in and learn behind Montez, and . . . that’s a great opportunity to learn from somebody who’s been doing it so long,” Stewart said.
The Bears are at a crucial moment with Poles trying to complete the rebuild and Johnson looking to ignite them after six listless seasons. The first step toward getting this draft right is targeting the right positions.