Chicago Bears 2015 Draft Prospects : Right Tackle

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With the Bears season on the brink of being over at 5-7, it’s time to turn our focus to next year and what prospects might be available to fix our beloved Bears. With the draft being in Chicago this year, the draft is even more exciting than most years for Bears fans. Even if the Bears manage to win out and sneak into the playoffs, they still have plenty of holes on both sides of the ball and need to build some quality young depth. I will be breaking down prospects at every position with some focus on players I think the Bears could target. At some positions that aren’t as glaring of a need for the Bears like RB (unless they trade Forte) and maybe guard, I will focus less on the players projected to go early and focus more on mid-round prospects who the Bears presumably could target.

If you are sick of watching the Bears, there is some really exciting football being played on Saturdays this season and these lists will identify some players to keep an eye on during the last few weeks of the college football season and the initial college football playoff.

Position Summary: The Bears are pretty much set at LT with Jermon Bushrod who hasn’t been spectacular, but has been good enough to hold down his starting spot. Right tackle is a different story. 2nd-year tackle Jordan Mills has been brutal besides two games that he played pretty well as a rookie. Pro Football Focus rated Mills as the worst right tackle in the NFL last year and this year has him graded as the 2nd worst. The Bears have debated moving rookie Michael Ola over to right tackle permanently, but then they lose Ola’s versatility to play pretty much anywhere on the O-line. The Bears best bet is too either sign a veteran RT or find one in the draft. The Bears have too many other glaring needs to spend a high round pick on a right tackle, so I have listed right tackles with grades between the 2nd-6th rounds who might be targets for the Bears in the 2015 draft.

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* These aren’t ordered rankings, just RTs I think could end up on the Bears depending on how the offseason shakes out.

1.) TJ Clemmings, SR Pittsburgh

Attributes – 6’5, 305, 5.28

Scouting report – A mauling run blocker who has helped Pitt’s RB James Conner put up 1,600 rushing yards this season. Clemmings is relatively new to the position since he just switched over from defensive tackle two seasons ago, but he’s shown the potential to dominate as a run blocker. His pass protection still needs work which may drop him down to the 3rd round as he still struggles with speed off the edge. Clemmings has shown considerable improvement over his just two seasons as a RT so it may not be long before Clemmings is an all around force at the position.

Projection – 2nd-3rd round

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2.) Corey Robinson, SR South Carolina

Attributes – 6’8, 344, 5.35

Scouting report – Is currently playing LT for South Carolina, but has struggled so much with speed rushers from the SEC that a move to RT in the pros is inevitable. Despite his massive frame, Robinson has good feet and surprising athleticism. He’s been a very good run blocker for the Gamecocks and that should translate well to the next level, but the worry is whether Robinson will be able to hold up in pass pro. He’s a bit of a project, but has the size and unique athleticism to eventually become a Pro Bowl caliber RT with some improvement of his pass pro technique.

NFL comparison – King Dunlap

Projection – 3rd round

3.) Jake Fisher, SR Oregon

Attributes – 6’6, 300, 5.15

Scouting report – Good size, long arms, and moves his feet well enough to deal with speed rushers off the edge. Oregon’s quick-hit offense is actually a pretty good comparison to what Marc Trestman and the Bears are running these days, so Fisher may be able to step in quickly and be an upgrade at RT. Oregon’s pass protection really struggled when Fisher was out for a few weeks and improved immediately on his return which reflects well on Fisher. Fisher is also one of the faster tackles in the draft this year (5.15) which should allow him to get to the second level on RB/WR screens. If Fisher is still around in the 3rd round, I think he makes a lot of sense for the Bears.

Projection – 3rd-4th round

4.) Tyrus Thompson, SR Oklahoma

Attributes – 6’5, 336, 521

Scouting report – An excellent athlete who is still learning the intricacies of the left tackle position. Thompson has done a solid job as both a run and pass blocker for the Sooners this year as a left tackle, but could potentially dominate with a move to the right side of the line. Thompson has elite athleticism for his size, ideal arm length, and the physical abilities to do anything asked of him. Thompson just needs some coaching on his technique and needs to get stronger, then could become a very solid RT in the NFL.

Projection – 3rd-4th round

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5.) Rob Havenstein, SR Wisconsin

Attributes – 6’8, 327, 5.39

Scouting report – Massive human who has been the right tackle the last two seasons on dominant run blocking lines at Wisconsin. He’s not asked to pass block much and it isn’t a strength, but he can maul in the run game and has the size that he’s not a lost cause with some technique work on his pass pro.

NFL comparison – Phil Loadholdt

Projection – 5th-6th

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