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Chicago Bears Add Versatility to O-Line with Cody Whitehair

ByClyde A. Speller|
Sep 18, 2014; Manhattan, KS, USA; Kansas State Wildcats offensive linesman Cody Whitehair (55) waits for the snap of the ball during a 20-14 loss to the Auburn Tigers at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 18, 2014; Manhattan, KS, USA; Kansas State Wildcats offensive linesman Cody Whitehair (55) waits for the snap of the ball during a 20-14 loss to the Auburn Tigers at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-USA TODAY Sports

After selecting one of the top pass rushers in Leonard Floyd in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears decided to go after one of the best interior offensive linemen in this year’s draft. With their second-round pick (56th overall), the Bears selected Kansas State guard Cody Whitehair.

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Originally, Chicago was set to make a pick with the 41st overall selection, but after trading down with both the Buffalo Bills and the Seattle Seahawks, the Bears found themselves with the 56th overall pick, along with two more 2016 fourth-round picks (117th and 124th) and another fourth rounder in 2017.

According to cbssports.com, Whitehair is ranked as the No. 1 guard in this year’s draft. The 6-foot-4, 301-pounder is considered to be a Swiss Army Knife along the offensive line. Whitehair originally played left guard and right tackle for the Wildcats, then moved over to left tackle his junior year. Although he earned Second-Team All-Big 12 honors as a left tackle, Whitehair’s best fit in the NFL is at guard.

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    • Prior to the draft, the Bears added guards Manny Ramirez and Ted Larsen to a roster that already had left guard Matt Slauson and Kyle Long moving back to right guard after the acquisition of right tackle Bobby Massie. Whitehair adds much-needed depth to a Chicago offensive line that was banged up in 2015. In the event that the injury bug bites the Bears’ O-line once again, Whitehair is versatile enough to step in if needed almost anywhere along the offensive front.

    I was one of the people that thought the Bears would actually draft an offensive tackle in the first round, seeing how deep the pool is for defensive linemen and pass rushers this year. However, general manager Ryan Pace was patient enough to find a diamond in the rough on the offensive side of the ball in Whitehair. Now, Chicago appears to be much stronger and deeper on the O-line.

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