The Chicago Bears meat and potatoes draft with a side of HITS | Part 2

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Chicago Bears, Travis Bell
Chicago Bears, Travis Bell / Michael Hickey/GettyImages

The Chicago Bears are the first team to break the barrier and draft a player from Kennesaw State. Travis Bell is 6'0", 310 pounds. Bell is a seventh-round draft selection, but he was drafted at 218. That is the first pick in the seventh round. Bell is another athletically gifted athlete that produced some numbers on the field and during his workout:

  • 30 bench reps
  • 5.01 40-yard dahs
  • 32" vertical jump

Box in stats 2022:
11 games played; 16 solo tackles; 34 total tackles; 5.5 TFL; 1.5 sacks

Career stats:
54 games;68 solo tackles; 124 tackles; 24.5 TFL; 11 sacks

It is hard to get excited by a player from a small program, but Bell likely won't be asked to play the 3T. Bell will compete with his classmates and Andrew Billings to play the standard defensive tackle position. Making the roster should be every player's goal at this point but even more for Bell from where he stands.

Next. The Chicago Bears skill-set values and what that means for the 2023 NFL Draft. dark

I know Ryan Pace deployed a different defensive scheme, but there were some reasons why I didn't like Eddie Goldman being drafted so high. Goldman was a good player. Siaki Ika is a good prospect, but a nose tackle should not be drafted in any draft class high unless they play like Vita Vea. The meat and potatoes are on the roster. The HITS principle is in full bloom. It is up to the Chicago Bears coaching to prove Ryan Poles right.