Offensive linemen the Chicago Bears could get in the first two rounds
With four games left in the season, the 2023 NFL Draft order is anything but set, but as the Bears are staring down an inevitable top draft selection, there are many options for the team to take, including trading back. Whether the Bears keep their original pick or move back with another franchise, here are three players who the team could not only draft but would likely be able to start on day one.
Peter Skoronski
The second notable Northwestern tackle to enter the draft in recent years, Peter Skoronski has nearly the same level of hype as former teammate Rashan Slater, who ended up as the 13th overall pick in the 2021 draft. Interestingly enough, the two former Wildcats are almost identical in size at about 6’4″ and 300 lbs, and while they are certainly not the same player, Slater’s success with the Chargers may be an indication of Skoronski’s success as a pro.
Skoronski is listed as a tackle and could fit perfectly on the right side of the Bears’ offensive line next to Teven Jenkins, but his size and skillset could force him to get moved to guard, very similar to Jenkins’ career arc with the Bears.
Skoronksi will likely end up a top 10-15 pick, and depending on how the Bears end their season and wether or not they trade back, Skoronski may be a versatile, athletic lineman the team could target to help protect Justin Fields.
Paris Johnson Jr
At 6’6″ and 310 pounds, Paris Johnson Jr. has started at both guard spots and left tackle for the Ohio State Buckeyes. With his height, Johnson will likely be seen in the NFL as a true tackle, but his experience and size as a run blocker may make him a perfect right tackle to bookend the line with Braxton Jones.
Johnson Jr. was the true anchor for the Buckeyes’ offensive line for the past two seasons, allowing zero sacks at guard as a freshman and a sophomore.
Another likely top 10-15 pick, Johnson Jr and Skoronski will likely be high up on Chicago’s draft board as the draft nears closer. From a pure tackle perspective, Johnson Jr may be a better option than Skoronski to protect fellow former Buckeye Justin Fields from elite edge pressure in the NFL.
John Michael Schmitz
Former Minnesota Golden Gopher John Michael Schmitz is the best true center in the 2023 NFL Draft, and with a need at that position for the Bears, there is certainly a chance the team tries to find to get him at some point in the draft.
As the best center, Schmitz may end up going anywhere from the middle of the first round to the middle of the second round, and the Bears will likely have a shot to draft him at some point next offseason.
3 Teams the Chicago Bears should trade back with in the NFL Draft
The Chicago Bears need to add talent to their roster. Trading with one of these three teams could help them do just that during the 2023 NFL Draft.
Throughout his time in Minnesota, Schmitz has been a bully at the center position, allowing zero sacks through three seasons in the Big 10. At 6’4″ and 320 pounds, Schmitz has dominant size but is quick enough to execute the outside run schemes that the Bears use so often. If the Bears traded down and used their first pick to draft Schmitz it would be considered a success, but in the hypothetical where he is the second player drafted by Chicago, the 2023 NFL Draft would have to be considered a home run.