Is it clear and obvious the direction these Chicago Bears need to go in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft? That's a loaded question and, in all likelihood, we're going to see Ryan Poles go with the best player available; as boring as that answer may be.
Every year, draft time provides fans with all of the mocks, rumors, reports and analysis they could possibly want. But, one analyst is extremely particular and purposeful with how he does his mock drafts and, in fact, only does two every year: Peter Schrager.
In his latest mock draft, Schrager has the Bears selecting Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor.
And, if you know Schrager, this isn't just a mere guess. This mock draft was done after dozens upon dozens of conversations he's had around the league, so his picks aren't thrown out there blindly.
If the Bears select Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor, expect this fan base to be divided
Proctor is very, very likely to be drafted in the first round. But, at pick no. 25 overall, is he going to be the best player on the board? Follow-up question: is he worth drafting with the way the left tackle position looks, currently?
The Bears have other major needs, of course, on the defensive line and at safety, in particular. The left tackle position isn't as bad as some might think, either, with Braxton Jones now healthy and looking to return to his pre-injury form.
Whether it's Jones or Ozzy Trapilo for the long run, there's a chance that either one of them could be the answer. Of course, they might not be, which is why Schrager is selecting Proctor here.
But, beyond the draw of Proctor's physical attributes and massive size is a serious question mark: can he even play left tackle in the NFL?
At 6-foot-7, 352 pounds, Proctor can move fairly well for his size. He is a massive human being. But, there are inconsistencies when it comes to how he utilizes his weight on the field and particularly in pass sets. Above all else, Proctor really might not even be suited to play left tackle, and that's a problem.
If you learn one thing, above all else about Proctor, NFL Media's Lance Zierlein sums it up perfectly in his scouting report:
"Inconsistency in pass protection hasn’t helped his draft standing, but he still has the potential to become a good right tackle or very good guard."
If we're to take the words of any scouting or draft expert, Zierlein is absolutely one of them we should be listening to. And, if he thinks Proctor could be better suited on the right side or even at guard, then that's a gigantic red flag for Chicago.
Drafting Proctor means selecting him as the team's left tackle. Darnell Wright isn't moving off his right side. Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson are locked in at guard. There's nowhere else for Proctor to go. But, if he isn't a true left tackle, then why are the Bears drafting him?
All across social media, over the last couple of months, Bears fans have been largely split on the idea of drafting the Crimson Tide standout. There is a lot of good, but a lot of question marks.
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Schrager is as plugged-in as anybody. Proctor to the Bears? Stay tuned.