Chicago Bears load up on offense in three-round mock draft

Round 1, Pick No. 18

Outside of star offensive tackle Penei Sewell, Oklahoma Center Creed Humphrey is the next best thing from the offensive lineman in the 2021 draft class. Humphrey was essentially a guaranteed first-round pick last season after earning first-team All-Big 12 honors last season.

What makes Humphrey special is he hits every box in terms of what you want in your NFL center. Humphrey plays a nasty kind of football that he will take out anybody and anything standing in his way. He doesn’t do this recklessly though as he has elite pad level and technique. There is almost no weakness in his game.

He backs up his nasty style of play with his unbelievable power. He stays low and controls defenders with ease using great hand placement and quick feet. A lot of this stems from his wrestling background as he wrestled ever since he was four years old.

A personal trait I like to look for is a football player with a wrestling background (see Tristan Wirfs from last season). Wrestling teaches football players not only how to be mean and aggressive, but how to do this while keeping great balance. The hand-fighting from wrestling additionally translates greatly to the football field.

Basically, Humphrey is far and wide the best center and even interior offensive lineman in this draft class. Humphrey would allow Whitehair to shift to guard and this could make for an elite interior blocking unit in Chicago pairing those two with Daniels.