4. Pick 75, Jonah Jackson, G, Ohio State
Passing on Hennessy can be seen as understandable. The Bears want to commit to Whitehair at center, and at pick 78, maybe Hennessy was just too low on their board. How about Jonah Jackson?
We highlighted Jackson throughout the pre-draft process as an option, and he went to a division rival in the third round, 25 picks after the Bears second-rounder. The Lions have Joe Dahl, Kenny Wiggins, Oday Aboushi, Josh Garnett, and Caleb Benencoch as guard options. They added Jackson in the third round and came back around to add Logan Stenberg in round four.
None of these names are going to blow you away, but they all have started before, and that is the point. The Lions threw resources after a group of players who have starter experience, or starter upside as rookies. They are going to let the competition play itself. Thank goodness the Lions are coached by Matt Patricia, because they should be able to find a starter, and may have the guy in Jackson.
Jackson is a transfer from Rutger to Ohio State, so he has shown that a leap in playbook, coaching, and competition was an issue for him. He is also 23 years old, so there is a real chance he is physically mature enough to start next year. Will the Bears be watching a player they pass on twice a year for the Lions next year?