Chicago Bears: 5 Day 3 Tackles who started as rookies in recent years

The combined excitement of Teven Jenkins and Justin Fields has the Chicago Bears fans rabid for the start of the season. Even in the fifth round when Ryan Pace took Larry Borom it hit exactly what the fans have wanted in building the offensive line. While some fans may want Larry Borom to start from day one, that may be a bit of a stretch considering where he is now and where he may be going,

Germain Ifedi is slated to start at right tackle, and while Borom could kick into a guard that is arguably where the team is currently strongest from a depth perspective. Beyond that, historically it is hard to find starters on the offensive line in day three who contribute right away. You can develop tackles and find them starting over time, but they rarely can jump in on day one and start. There is a reason these linemen fell this far.

Since 2011, eight offensive linemen drafted from day three or later started at right tackle as rookies.

Byron Bell, LaAdrian Waddle, and Terrence Steele started as UDFAs, and we have not heard from them much since. They started due to lack of depth, not because the team found an instant starter as a UDFA.

However, the following five were drafted, and at least were in the plan to be competing to start day one. They are the few success stories that Larry Borom could point to if he wants to start day one.

5. Bobby Massie

A little bit of the circle of life coming around here. Of course, Massie started his career in Arizona, but as a fourth-round pick who started on day one, a strong training camp could have Larry Borom as the long-term replacement for Massie.

Massie started all 16 games as a rookie, although he missed most of his second season with an injury. We know that Massie wound up in Chicago where injuries derailed his time. Still, he was a reliable starter and for a fourth-rounder, was a nice find.

4. Jordan Mills

Once again we have a tie to the Chicago Bears. We can at least say that if a right tackle is going to start after being drafted on day three it would not be the first time in Chicago Bears history. Mills was also a fifth-round pick and found himself starting 16 games in 2013 as a rookie. Mills started for the Bears in 2014 as well before starting four more seasons with the Buffalo Bills. Remember, this one of the better outcomes from a day one starter.

3. Seantrel Henderson

Henderson was a prized prospect from Miami who fell in the draft for a variety of reasons. Nonetheless, despite being a seventh-round pick the Buffalo Bills gave him a shot at starting as a rookie. That was the last time was a full-time starter.

2. TJ Clemmings

Clemmings was a fourth-round pick for the Minnesota Vikings. He was drafted based on athletic potential, and not really what he showed on tape. He never lived up to the athletic hype. Clemmings started two seasons with the Vikings and then bounced around before fading out of the league.

1. Michael Onwenu

The New England Patriots drafted Onwenu in the sixth round from Michigan last season. He was drafted after Trevis Gipson for what it is worth. He was excellent last season, although the run-heavy scheme New England ran really suited his skill set coming from Michigan. Nonetheless, we will see where he ascends to in year two, because it is not often that you see someone drafted so late, and exceed for very long.

In fact, in recent history, Massie is looked at as one of the big successes here. This is not a grand conclusion and I do not have a list of day three tackles who did not start right away. However, you do see more long-term starters out of tackles from day three that are developed and do not see the field early.

It may not be that throwing them out early is a death sentence, but rather that the time learning and developing on the side is more worthwhile.