Should Chicago Bears draft Sean Rhyan in 2022 NFL draft?

Sean Rhyan has been a known athlete in the state of California for years now. Coming out of high school Rhyan was the top tackle prospect in the state, but also was a star in track, rugby, and baseball. After a solid career at UCLA, Rhyan is entering the 2022 NFL draft. Should the Chicago Bears be interested?

Sean Rhyan statistics and athletic profile

Sean Rhyan started at left tackle for UCLA in 2019 as a true freshman. He finished at UCLA with 31 starts at left tackle. Last season he was voted second-team All-Pac 12.

Thanks to mockdraftable we are able to see how Sean Rhyan compares to recent tackle prospects who participated in the NFL combine.

Overall Sean Rhyan has average height but is a bit thicker in his build. Still, while he has big hands, his arm length is a bit below ideal standards for a tackle.

Beyond his size, his athleticism shows a plus athlete. His 10-yard split was average, but his jumps were elite, and his agility drills were suitable, although his 3-cone was much better than his 20-yard shuttle. Either way, he tested out to be above average for an NFL athlete.

Strengths that Sean Rhyan can present in the NFL

Starting at UCLA as a true freshman and having three seasons of starting experience goes a long way. With some of these players, you see fifth and sixth-year seniors because of COVID and them getting extra playing time. With Rhyan, he is one of the younger linemen in this draft.

When you combine young, experienced, and athletic you can get excited about what he brings to th table.

His best strength on the field is his hand usage and strength. When he punches, the lineman feels it, and when he can get his hands into his chest and extend, he can hold his base and drive defenders back. Rhyan also can be seen engulfing defenders and plowing them over in the run game.

Weaknesses that will present problems for Sean Rhyan

For how athletic his testing was, you can only see bits and pieces on the field. The 20-yard shuttle being poor may speak more to his foot agility than anything. Rhyan often loses on inside counters, or against rushers with a variety of moves. He can often distribute his weight too far onto one foot, which allows a slow recovery when a defender changes plans.

Rhyan can shoot out of his stance in the run game but speed rushers can often can get around the edge on him. This can be attributed to his feet, but also his below-average arm length.

When you add in the footwork issues, the length issues, and the pros of being a power run blocker, you can start to picture Sean Rhyan as a guard, which is fine but does not pump up his draft stock.

NFL Comparison for Sean Rhyan

Using Relative Athletic Scores, one of the best comparisons for Sean Rhyan in terms of athletic ability along with play style is Nico Siragusa. You can see below how they stack up, but also that Rhyan is listed as a guard for this comparison.

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As a tackle, his shuttle drill was below average, but as a tackle, he stands right at the average mark if not a bit above it. Still, you can see that skill for the skill he can go back and forth with Nico Siragusa.

Siragusa had a similar identity as a prospect as well. He obviously can move in the run game, and both of them are powerful with their punch. Still, both of them can be beaten with speed. Nico Siragusa fell to the fourth round of the 2017 NFL draft, and you could see Sean Rhyan being a third or fourth-round pick depending on whether teams see upside in a tackle or just a starting guard.

Does Sean Rhyan fit the Chicago Bears?

The Chicago Bears need linemen of all shapes, sizes, and positions. The fact that Rhyan has the upside to start at tackle combined with the downside to failing into guard would make him an ideal fit for the Bears.

The Bears want position versatility in their line, and Rhyan has that.  They want athleticism and pedigree, and Rhyan brought that to the table. The team wants young players who are hungry and ready to fight and Rhyan has that demeanor.

There are questions with his game that will push him to the third-round range but is where the Bears have picks and could potentially pounce on his skill set.