Chad Hamilton: Chicago Bears Draft Profile

On paper the Chicago Bears had one of their best drafts in recent history and brought in some interesting undrafted free agents as well.  Over the past week the Bear Goggles On crew has been breaking down all of the incoming players’ abilities, their potential fit on the team and ultimately the chances we feel they have to make the 2015 53-man roster.  A new GM and coaching staff are in place and with that are new schemes on both sides of the ball, so the search is on for the right kind of players to bring the Bears into a new era of football.  In this climate of significant change there is perhaps more opportunity than usual for incoming rookies to unseat some veterans, especially recent draft selections who haven’t exactly panned out.

OL Chad Hamilton, Coastal Carolina

Attributes:

Height | Weight:  6’2″ | 292 lbs

40-yard dash | Vertical:  4.93 seconds | 30″

Broad jump | Short shuttle:  9’4″ | 4.63 seconds

3-cone drill | Bench press: 7.58 seconds | 19 reps @ 225 lbs

Overview:

Players who originate from FCS schools don’t often get drafted highly and sometimes not at all, as was the case with Chad Hamilton who was seen as a possible 6th or 7th rounder but was brought in by the Bears as an undrafted free agent.  There’s certainly no question that he can play football as evidenced by his dominant play while wearing the colors of the Chanticleers at Coastal Carolina, but we won’t know if he can do it against the big boys of the NFL until the pads come on in the late July heat of sunny Bourbonnais, IL.

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Statistics/Accomplishments:

• 2014 Consensus All-American
• 3-time All-Big South (1st team in 2013 & 2014, 2nd team in 2012)
• Started or played in 52 of 53 games over 4-year career
• Whistled for only 3 penalties and allowed only 2 sacks in 2014
• Coastal Carolina’s top-graded o-lineman in 10 of 14 games in 2014

Strengths:

Just about everything an NFL team could want from an NFL lineman Hamilton put on display while at Coastal Carolina, albeit on the smaller FCS stage.  He was lauded in NFL.com’s draft profile for his quick feet and agility, hand placement and ability to change direction fluidly to keep defenders in front of him.  He plays with solid technique, which could be his key to sticking in the NFL when facing bigger/stronger defensive lineman who might have an over reliance on their physical tools and can be bested by someone more fundamentally sound.  Hamilton is ideally built for a zone-blocking scheme, and could be best utilized at center if able.

Weaknesses:

Played tackle in college, but may not have the type of height or length necessary to become a long-term option at the position in the NFL.  Plays without the type of power needed to be a base blocker against bigger defensive lineman and struggled at times as a pulling tackle.

Bears fit:

The Bears currently list Hamilton as a Guard and he has his work cut out there.  Kyle Long and Matt Slauson are the starters with Michael Ola, Ryan Groy and Vlad Ducasse the primary backup options behind them.

Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

If instead the team decides to measure his fit as a Center, then Hamilton has to deal with the fact that 2015 3rd-round choice Hroniss Grasu is the current future plan at the position.  Meanwhile Will Montgomery was brought in as a free agent from Denver, where he started in the latter part of the season for the Broncos and performed well.  Barring injury or a quick ascension by Grasu, Montgomery is the man at center for 2015.  If Hamilton ever gets a look at Tackle, maybe he’ll have a shot there as the Bears have been somewhere between slightly above-average and dumpster fire at that position for a while.  That said, the Bears invested a 6th round pick in Tayo Fabuluje who will certainly get a longer look at tackle initially.

With all of that said, what fate awaits Chad Hamilton in his future with the Bears?  He’ll most likely be on the outside looking in.  There are just too many bodies and years of experience in front of him, so the odds are long for our new friend out of Coastal Carolina.  Opportunity is a funny thing, however, and if nothing else he’ll at least have a chance to show he belongs on the next level.  If he shows well enough when given a chance, practice squad could be the landing spot for him and after that you never know.