One of the most fascinating aspects of sports is the draft—a unique opportunity for every team to lay a foundation with young, talented players. Oftentimes, teams like to go for the flashy pick like the star quarterback or premier wide receiver. This shouldn’t be the case for the Chicago Bears in this upcoming draft. If anything, they should take a page out of the Los Angeles Chargers’ draft approach for the draft.
The Bears Should Emulate the Chargers Approach for the Draft
Learning from the Chargers
The Chargers stirred up controversy in the last draft by drafting Joe Alt instead of Malik Nabers. While wide receiver was a glaring need, the team opted for a tackle despite already having Rashawn Slater on their roster. On the surface, this move was puzzling, but now it looks like it’s paying off.
Going back a few drafts, another stunning decision was made in the other sense. The Cincinnati Bengals desperately needed help on the offensive line, yet they took Ja’Marr Chase instead of Penei Sewell. While Chase turned out to be a generational talent who paired seamlessly with Joe Burrow due to their college connection, such cases are rare exceptions rather than the rule. It’s much easier to find a good wide receiver than a good tackle in today’s NFL. Plain and simple.
Why the Bears Need a Shift in Strategy
The Bears made the flashy pick drafting Rome Odunze last draft. They could have gone different routes, drafting a tackle like Olu Fashanu or an edge rusher like Jared Verse. This wasn’t a bad draft choice by any means, but now that the Bears made the flashy pick, it’s time to go a different route this draft.
Simply put, the Bears aren’t in a position to make a flashy pick. What they need the most right now is stability on the offensive line, and luckily for them, the Bears have several paths forward, but all roads should lead to strengthening their offensive line.
Options for the Bears in the 2025 NFL Draft
One route the Bears could take is selecting either Kelvin Banks Jr. or Will Campbell if available. Both prospects have the talent to provide stability and protect Caleb Williams. If they are both gone by the time it reaches the Bears pick, then another underrated option would be trading down to the mid-late first round and drafting one of the following offensive linemen:
- Tyler Booker, OG, Alabama
- Jonah Savaiinaea, OG, Arizona
- Aireontae Ersery, OT, Minnesota
- Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
- Wyatt Milum, OT, West Virginia
- Cameron Williams, OT, Texas
- Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon
The options are plentiful for the Bears, and it’s a perfect opportunity to acquire extra draft capital. Fans can have different opinions on what the Bears should do with their first-round pick. If a player like Mason Graham or Abdul Carter is available, it could be difficult to pass them up. That said, trading down to select an offensive lineman in the middle-to-late first round wouldn’t be a bad outcome either.
Lessons from the Pittsburgh Steelers
Look at the Pittsburgh Steelers. They had an interior o-line consisting of LG Isaac Seumalo, C Nate Herbig, and RG James Daniels as starters. Yet they drafted C Zach Fraiser in the second round and RG Mason McCormick in the fourth round. Injuries to Herbig and Daniels early in the season forced Frazier and McCormick into starting roles, proving the importance of depth and proactive planning.
The lesson is, when a team has problems at a position, attack it head-on. Don’t be afraid to invest more than necessary; you never know what can happen. If the Bears truly believe Caleb Williams is special, show it. Invest in the offensive line, because if not, they’ll ruin yet another quarterback.
Main Image: Kirby Lee – USA Today Sports
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