Why Chicago Bears should not go offensive tackle in round one 

The Chicago Bears have plenty of options for the ninth overall pick. Due to the names likely to be available, there have been discussions around them drafting a wide receiver, pass rusher, or offensive lineman with the pick. If the team trades down, maybe the best option will be a tackle, but unless that is the case, the team should be looking in another direction. 

First, let's look at the names being replaced by the additions made. If the Bears draft a receiver in the top ten, he pushes Tyler Scott down the pecking order. An edge rusher would give DeMarcus Walker fewer snaps but effectively would push Jacob Martin out from a role player to someone who hardly sees the field. If they add a tackle, it pushes Braxton Jones out. 

Jones is not an above-average starter, but compared to Martin and Scott, he is much safer to keep on the field. Beyond that, while the tackle class is deep, and there is talent at the top, it is not quite an elite tackle class. 

Why Chicago Bears should not go offensive tackle in round one 

Almost all mock drafts have Malik Nabers, Rome Odunze, and Marvin Harrison Jr. ranked ahead of the top tackle on the board. If any of those three can fall to nine, it is obvious for the team to take them over a tackle. 

When it comes to edge rushers, you could put Jared Verse, Laitu Latu, or Dallas Turner up against Joe Alt or Olu Fashanu, and there is no clear consensus. The Bears need the rusher, and the rusher could easily be their highest-graded player. 

If they do trade down, it puts them in a better position for Troy Fatanu, Taliese Fuaga, or JC Latham. However, Fatanu and Fuaga are expected to be guards at the next level. It is true that the Bears may be better off looking to replace one of Nate Davis or Teven Jenkins in the long term, but the question is, what is the cost-benefit? You can find guards later in the draft, and while these would be surefire options, so would the majority of the other positions they take that could have a bigger impact. 

With so many offensive line options expected to go in the first round, there is a real chance that the team will go that route. However, as of now, there is a better chance that we see a receiver or an edge rusher.