This OL prospect could improve Chicago Bears depth

Chris Paul is a four-year starter on the Tulsa offensive line. He comes into the 2022 NFL draft as a former team captain who received a Senior Bowl and NFL combine invite. Is Chris Paul a player that the Chicago Bears should have on their radar?

Chris Paul athletic profile and Tulsa Statistics

As a four-year starter, Chris Paul started 38 games during his career at Tulsa. This includes 18 starts at right tackle, 12 starts at left guard, and eight starts at right guard.

Thanks to MockDraftable we can view the athletic profile of Chris Paul and how he compares to recent NFL combine invites on the offensive line.

Chris Paul is a bit shorter but thicker than your typical lineman with adequate arm length. His speed is great, but the 10-yard split to match is what you need to see from an offensive lineman.

Chris Paul had a strong broad jump, and a good 3-cone, but was below average in his vertical and short shuttle drill. Still, Paul overall tested above average for his size.

Strengths that Chris Paul can translate to the NFL

The overall strength of Chris Paul’s game comes from his hands. He has a strong punch, and he can latch onto his man and finish him with his upper body strength. Paul plays the game aware and light on his toes. This makes him great at helping others when needed, as well as picking up stunts and blitzes.

Questions where Chris Paul can improve in the NFL

Chris Paul spent the past two seasons starting at right tackle, but that was mainly because the team needed him there due to lack of depth. They knew that he was better inside at guard, and he knows it too. That is where he is going to play.

With that in mind, a lot of his struggles at tackle are the reasons he will move inside to guard. At guard, he will have to watch he should pad height. Sometimes he would spring too far out of his stance and get held upright, losing all of his power.

NFL Comparison for Chris Paul

Thanks to Relative Athletic Scores, we looked at a combination of athletic and playing style comparisons to find the most realistic one for Chris Paul. The best NFL comparison for Chris Paul is Tytus Howard. You can see how they compare below.

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Tytus Howard is a bit taller, and the big difference shows up in the 3-cone. Still, they had similar shuttle drills, and most of the other variables are similar as well.

More than that, the two have similar traits on the field. Tytus Howard was drafted because of his athletic upside, so Paul showing a bit lighter on his feet may do him well. Still, the Texans talked themselves into Howard because he played tackle in college, but his destiny in the NFL was always at guard.

The big thing the two have in common is their feet and inability to set a strong edge when dropping in pass protection. Paul is more refined with hands and more athletic, but this should only make the case for his move to guard more complete.

Howard was over-drafted with the thought that he could play tackle and now has turned into a powerful guard who packs a mean punch. That is the type of playing style you should expect from Chris Paul.

Should the Chicago Bears draft Chris Paul?

Chris Paul is likely to fall into the day three range which should make him strong consideration for the Chicago Bears. They obviously need offensive line help and Paul fits a lot of what they are looking for.

Take this quote from NFL.com, talking to a personnel executive

“Great, great person. You want him in the locker room but the football movements concern me.”

When Ryan Poles is talking about building a culture he is talking about bringing guys like him in. Paul plays with angry hands and Poles has to like that he played out of position to help the team. These are the qualities you want to hear from a player who may be falling because his tape at right tackle had holes in it.

A locker room presence, a tough guy, and someone who can start at guard, but slide into tackle if needed is where the Chicago Bears should be looking so he is firmly on the radar.