The Chicago Bears hit the Pro Day circuit hard. They were at Northwestern, Georgia, and Ohio State, and the team saw the top three tackles prospects in the 2023 NFL draft up close and personal. It was interesting to note that after the Georgia pro day, there was a lot of buzz that Broderick Jones was the top tackle on many teams boards.
This may be a slight surprise because a lot of the draft media was ranking him third amongst this group. However, as they talk to people in the NFL, the vibe may be changing.
If the Chicago Bears are in a position to draft the first tackle, are they a team that could take Broderick Jones in the top 10?
Broderick Jones fits Chicago Bears run scheme more than Peter Skoronski
Both tackles are strong as run blockers, and this is not a knock on Skoronski. However, the Chicago Bears ask their tackles to pull a lot in the wide zone scheme. They look for their tackles to pick up players at the second level, and with guys like Khalil Herbert and Justin Fields, getting those tackles to make key blocks can lead to home runs.
Below is an example of Braxton Jones pulling, getting to the second level, and blocking a cornerback. You can find this throughout the tape of Jones because this was a huge strength of his game.
It was clear the Chicago Bears valued this pre-draft in evaluating him then used it to their advantage. Take a look at Broderick Jones in the clips attached from the tweet below. There is example after example of him running down the field with his huge frame and picking up key blocks in space.
Broderick Jones in space whew pic.twitter.com/6rD5z4W52b
— Billy M (@BillyM_91) March 9, 2023
This is not to say that Skoronski cannot and has not done this. But, it is certain that there are more examples from Jones last season. Georgia ran zone 48% of the time, and Northwestern ran zone 38% of the time, per PFF. Beyond that, Georgia ran an even more outside zone, whereas Northwestern relied more on the inside.
The case could be made that the scheme gave Jones the better look at the area. At the same time, Broderick Jones has the skill set that makes him lethal in this area, whereas Skoronski is better as a power blocker and an inside pusher.
Do the Chicago Bears want to get their lineman out like Braxton Jones last season, and does that make Broderick Jones a better fit?
2. Chicago Bears will have the arm length debate
You have probably heard about by now, the arm-length debate. If Peter Skoronski stays at left tackle, it would be very rare for a player with his arm length to succeed. He could move to right tackle, but that is hit or miss as well.
Below you can see his athletic profile compared to all others tackles in the NFL combine history, via mockdraftable.
The arm length, wingspan, and even height is alarming. Braden Smith has made it work with a similar length, but he is two inches taller, so he brings a longer frame overall. Size and length are just so valuable in the NFL when bigger, and faster players can still beat technique.
It had already shown up on tape, and you can see Iowa prospect Lukas Van Ness get inside his chest with his length.
Meanwhile, if you project Skoronski to the NFL as a guard, he looks like your standard player, or even a more maxed-out one athletcially.
His arm length is still not great, but his height and wingspan become fairly normal when comparing him to other guards. Peter Skoronski is not the first elite college tackle who will be viewed as a guard in the NFL, and he will not be the last.
Zack Martin, Justin Pugh, Marshall Yanda, and Joe Thuney all moved from left tackle to left guard, and all became elite players for a long time. Meanwhile, most of the players drafted high but tried to stick at tackle and did not have the same fate.
On the flip side, Broderick Jones has all that you want from a physical perspective. He is right in line from a height and weight perspective and even has the frame to grow. Beyond that, the arm length is significantly different.
If Broderick Jones were a late-round pick, it is not a debate. Still, most people would put him in a tier close to or on the same level as Skoronski. When you have to nitpick to split the difference, it is easier to see why Broderick Jones could be a fit for the Chicago Bears.
1. Broderick Jones is the home run swing for a franchise left tackle
If Peter Skoronski is Zack Martin, and Broderick Jones is a huge bust, none of this matters. Still, if you are the Chicago Bears, and you can take a swing at a potential franchise-changing left tackle, when else will you have a shot this good? Maybe if the Panthers are bad next year?
Skoronski could be a great guard, but Broderick Jones has the upside of someone such as Tyron Smith.
They are almost identical from a size and athletic profile perspective.
These are the weakness of Smith coming out of USC, per NFL.com
- Would benefit from adding more bulk to his frame
- Does not have natural football instincts
- Overall awareness is lacking
- Can be baited by stunts and twists
- Does not recognize the blitz as quickly as you'd like to see
- Can be beat by speed-to-power pass rushing moves
These are the weaknesses of Broderick Jones
- Less than two full seasons of starting experience at left tackle.
- Needs to keep his chin tucked and back flat in protection.
- Punch comes from outside angles and is slow to stick the rusher.
- Gives early ground when challenged by power rush.
- Doesn’t fit up run blocks in one, fluid motion.
- Will need to improve play strength as a pro.
- Tends to duck head and lose sight into first contact
Both of them could add more bulk, and both needed help against the power rush. Both of them have questions that come down to needing a bit of refinement through playing time. That brings up the last big difference.
Skoronski has 1,259 snaps while Jones has 665 snaps. That could speak to Skoronski coming in as the better, more prepared player, but what it also says is that we have not seen close to the best of Broderick Jones yet.
Coming out of high school, he was a highly sought after recruit, and he spent a year and a half behind Jamaree Salyer, who is a starter for the Chargers now. In his limited time we have seen immense upside. Skoronski is much more of what you see is what you get. Jones has a chance to hit another ceiling in the NFL.
If the Chicago Bears are going to take the swing, it should be on the player who is already good, but could even show more. Skoronski may not have the high end upside, at least not at tackle, and is closer to the finished product. It is at least worth debating which swing if better