Chicago Bears Select T Tayo Fabuluje in Round 6
Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
The Chicago Bears added some offensive line depth in round 6 by drafting T Tayo Fabuluje from TCU with the 183rd overall pick. Fabuluje is a massive lineman (6’6 | 353) though he had his weight down to 332 pounds for his pro day. That is an impressive weight considering that he started the 2014 season at 376 pounds.
Fabuluje has had an unusual college career. In 2012 he was the Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the year, in 2013 he was out of football due to financial and family issues, and in 2014 he earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention as the starting tackle for a TCU team that just missed competing for the national championship. For more on Fabuluje’s unusual journey, check out this story from SB Nation.
If Fabuluje can keep his weight under control, he has the potential to be a quality NFL lineman. He played tackle in college, but most scouts believe that Fabuluje will move inside to guard at the next level. He has elite power with the ability to be a force as a run blocker. His pass protection technique needs a lot of work, but his natural size makes it challenging for defenders to get around him and his strength negates most bull rush attempts.
Fabuluje’s feet are surprisingly nimble for a large man, he just needs some coaching on what to do with them. He only played two years of college football, so its understandable that his technique is raw. The size and natural power are there for Fabuluje to be an effective NFL player, but his technique needs to be cleaned up and may keep him on the bench for a season or two. He is a good fit for a power run scheme and could compete for a job on the line by 2016.
Here is NFL.com’s “bottom line” on Fabuluje:
"Huge tackle with natural strength and nimble feet. Played just two years of college football and has had to overcome difficult circumstances in his life. His footwork issues will take time to fix and might still be exploited by NFL defenders. Fabuluje might be best served moving inside, where his strength and short-area movement skills will be viewed as big pluses by offensive line coaches."