Chicago Bears 2015 Draft Prospects : Center

Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

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: Roberto Garza has been a warrior for the Bears the last few seasons but the 33-year old has been playing like a 53-year old the last few weeks. The Bears signed Brian de la Puente in the offseason, who used to start for the Saints under Bears OC Aaron Kromer, and he’s been OK but not consistent enough to lock the position down next year when Garza inevitably retires. So if there is a position on the O-line that the Bears might spent a relatively high pick on, it will probably be center.

More from Chicago Bears Draft

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

1.) Hroniss Grasu, SR Oregon

Attributes – 6’3, 297, 5.10

Scouting report – Quick off the ball, with the athleticism to get to the second level on draw and trap plays. Grasu is a little undersized, but has a good base in pass pro and has been able to stone bull-rushes from much bigger DTs. Grasu started all 40 games in his career at Oregon, is a natural leader and has unusually long arms and huge hands. He’s been good since day 1 with the Ducks and has very few flaws in his game. Grasu seems like a guy who could step in as a rookie and be the Bears center for the next 7-8 years.

NFL comparison – Max Under (NFLDraftScout)

Projection – 2nd round

2.) Reese Dismukes, SR Auburn

Attributes – 6’3, 296, 5.00

Scouting report – Three year starter for Auburn, who lacks the ideal physical traits of a top-tier lineman but has arguably been the most productive center in college football the last two seasons. Dismukes is a classic warrior in the trenches who excels at opening holes inside for his running backs while keeping the pocket clean for his QB to step up. There are very few flaws in Dismukes game; he’s a brawler who has the technique to set a good base in pass pro and the strength and aggressiveness to win the short yardage battles at the line of scrimmage. Dismukes is probably going to slip to the 2nd round because of his position, but he will be a steal there.

NFL comparison – Alex Mack

Projection – 2nd round

3.) BJ Finney, SR Kansas St

Attributes – 6’4, 303, 5.32

Scouting report – Strong, mauling run blocker with a quick burst off the ball and the toughness to win the battle in the trenches against often much bigger DTs. Finney is a former walk-on who has started every game for 4 seasons and is a 2-time team captain. Finney needs to get a little stronger to handle NFL-size DTs, but has been able to win battles in the trenches for 4 seasons despite being undersized and “not strong enough”. Finney is equally good against both the run and the pass and could continue to defy the odds and become a successful NFL center.

Projection – 4th round

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

4.) David Andrews, SR Georgia

Attributes – 6’2, 294, 5.24

Scouting report – Has been a dominant inside run blocker for Todd Gurley and the rest of the Bulldogs stable of powerful running backs. Andrews mauls in the run game, but needs work on his pass pro technique and can be caught off balance by quick DTs. Andrews would probably need a year or two of development before his pass protection would be NFL worthy.

Projection – 5th-6th round

Home/Chicago Bears Draft