With Brax and Tev on the left side, the run blocking should be epic good. Let's hope both can improve as pass blockers too (and I believe both can). I have a feeling the Bears have Whitehair as the "floor" for C but that could change in this draft depending upon how it shakes out for the Bears at C there. The last big piece is that RT position now.
Might be Jenkins and Skoronski on the left side though. If the Bears do draft him I gotta think that day one Skoronski is still a better LT pass blocker than Jones.
With Brax and Tev on the left side, the run blocking should be epic good. Let's hope both can improve as pass blockers too (and I believe both can). I have a feeling the Bears have Whitehair as the "floor" for C but that could change in this draft depending upon how it shakes out for the Bears at C there. The last big piece is that RT position now.
Might be Jenkins and Skoronski on the left side though. If the Bears do draft him I gotta think that day one Skoronski is still a better LT pass blocker than Jones.
That definitely could be the case. It would be interesting. Because Skoronski may not make it at all as a tackle in the NFL with the alligator arms. He could. But it's not a given he can play OT at this level. One other thought is that the 2023 pass blocking by Brax should be much better after an off season in the weight room. Those bull rushes that he struggled with last year, shouldn't be a problem this year. LOL, of course that's all up in the air. Who knows, right?
Might be Jenkins and Skoronski on the left side though. If the Bears do draft him I gotta think that day one Skoronski is still a better LT pass blocker than Jones.
That definitely could be the case. It would be interesting. Because Skoronski may not make it at all as a tackle in the NFL with the alligator arms. He could. But it's not a given he can play OT at this level. One other thought is that the 2023 pass blocking by Brax should be much better after an off season in the weight room. Those bull rushes that he struggled with last year, shouldn't be a problem this year. LOL, of course that's all up in the air. Who knows, right?
I score this under media talk and not necessarily how scouts and GMs see him. He's still the highest graded OT in this draft by a long shot and no one has reduced that score due to his arm length. IMHO it's way over blown. He's a proven OT.
Another fact. Rashawn Slater whom Skoronski replaced was also a top draft pick of the LAC and is currently their starting LT. His arm length is only 1/2" longer than Skoronski's and Skoronski is higher ranked than Slater was. He's proven OT.
Now, due to their own preference the Bears may not rank Skoronski as highly as I do but any way you cut it this kid will soon become a top shelf NFL OL somewhere playing at OT or at OG. Short arms aside at either OT spot he's better than anyone else the Bears have on their roster now including Braxton Jones. He's proven OT.
That definitely could be the case. It would be interesting. Because Skoronski may not make it at all as a tackle in the NFL with the alligator arms. He could. But it's not a given he can play OT at this level. One other thought is that the 2023 pass blocking by Brax should be much better after an off season in the weight room. Those bull rushes that he struggled with last year, shouldn't be a problem this year. LOL, of course that's all up in the air. Who knows, right?
I score this under media talk and not necessarily how scouts and GMs see him. He's still the highest graded OT in this draft by a long shot and no one has reduced that score due to his arm length. IMHO it's way over blown. He's a proven OT.
Another fact. Rashawn Slater whom Skoronski replaced was also a top draft pick of the LAC and is currently their starting LT. His arm length is only 1/2" longer than Skoronski's and Skoronski is higher ranked than Slater was. He's proven OT.
Now, due to their own preference the Bears may not rank Skoronski as highly as I do but any way you cut it this kid will soon become a top shelf NFL OL somewhere playing at OT or at OG. Short arms aside at either OT spot he's better than anyone else the Bears have on their roster now including Braxton Jones. He's proven OT.
I keep reminding myself to chill on all of this and just watch what the Bears do in the draft. It has been fun researching the various players who should be available for the Bears in the first 2 or 3 rounds of this draft. There are some that look incredibly good.
I score this under media talk and not necessarily how scouts and GMs see him. He's still the highest graded OT in this draft by a long shot and no one has reduced that score due to his arm length. IMHO it's way over blown. He's a proven OT.
Another fact. Rashawn Slater whom Skoronski replaced was also a top draft pick of the LAC and is currently their starting LT. His arm length is only 1/2" longer than Skoronski's and Skoronski is higher ranked than Slater was. He's proven OT.
Now, due to their own preference the Bears may not rank Skoronski as highly as I do but any way you cut it this kid will soon become a top shelf NFL OL somewhere playing at OT or at OG. Short arms aside at either OT spot he's better than anyone else the Bears have on their roster now including Braxton Jones. He's proven OT.
I keep reminding myself to chill on all of this and just watch what the Bears do in the draft. It has been fun researching the various players who should be available for the Bears in the first 2 or 3 rounds of this draft. There are some that look incredibly good.
Exactly. Most any player the Bears select on days one and two will be an upgrade somewhere.
That definitely could be the case. It would be interesting. Because Skoronski may not make it at all as a tackle in the NFL with the alligator arms. He could. But it's not a given he can play OT at this level. One other thought is that the 2023 pass blocking by Brax should be much better after an off season in the weight room. Those bull rushes that he struggled with last year, shouldn't be a problem this year. LOL, of course that's all up in the air. Who knows, right?
I score this under media talk and not necessarily how scouts and GMs see him. He's still the highest graded OT in this draft by a long shot and no one has reduced that score due to his arm length. IMHO it's way over blown. He's a proven OT.
Another fact. Rashawn Slater whom Skoronski replaced was also a top draft pick of the LAC and is currently their starting LT. His arm length is only 1/2" longer than Skoronski's and Skoronski is higher ranked than Slater was. He's proven OT.
Now, due to their own preference the Bears may not rank Skoronski as highly as I do but any way you cut it this kid will soon become a top shelf NFL OL somewhere playing at OT or at OG. Short arms aside at either OT spot he's better than anyone else the Bears have on their roster now including Braxton Jones. He's proven OT.
Whatever position he ends up at, I believe he’ll be an all pro.
I score this under media talk and not necessarily how scouts and GMs see him. He's still the highest graded OT in this draft by a long shot and no one has reduced that score due to his arm length. IMHO it's way over blown. He's a proven OT.
Another fact. Rashawn Slater whom Skoronski replaced was also a top draft pick of the LAC and is currently their starting LT. His arm length is only 1/2" longer than Skoronski's and Skoronski is higher ranked than Slater was. He's proven OT.
Now, due to their own preference the Bears may not rank Skoronski as highly as I do but any way you cut it this kid will soon become a top shelf NFL OL somewhere playing at OT or at OG. Short arms aside at either OT spot he's better than anyone else the Bears have on their roster now including Braxton Jones. He's proven OT.
Whatever position he ends up at, I believe he’ll be an all pro.
I believe that as well and not because I'm all in on drafting him. It may well be that Poles has other plans but as far as drafting the best player available if he's on the board at your pick and it's a position that needs to be filled I'm not sure how you pass on him when he's by far graded and ranked higher than others who play OT.
The rumor mill is now cranking up Darnell Wright as Poles OT target. From Dane Brugler's Top 100. He's ranked as the #24 player overall.
Profile
There’s been a slow build in draft hype around Wright, but those who have watched him closely all come away with a similar sentiment: He has an argument as the top tackle in this class. At 333 pounds, Wright ran a 5.01 40-yard dash, an incredible number at that size. Wright’s explosiveness as a run blocker is clear — he moves bodies with ease on the edge. His pad level and lower-body strength are exactly what you’d look for in a powerful tackle, and he’s part of the reason Tennessee moved the ball with such ease in 2022.
As a pass protector, Wright already has a strong understanding of how to solve problems against the varying defensive fronts and pass-rush styles he’ll see at the next level. It all starts with his footwork, and his combination of balance and power is why he can keep edge rushers away from his quarterback.
If Wright can land on a team that runs the ball downhill to set up deep pockets with play actions, don’t be surprised if he looks like a Pro Bowl talent during the life of his first contract. — Diante Lee
Interestingly enough in Lance Zierlein's NFL draft reports his grading is equal to that of PJJ and he's graded as the 4th best OL overall behind Skoronski, Jones, and John Michael-Schmitz. Now the question becomes if he's Poles guy will he need to take him at #9 or can he gamble on trading back to improve his 2nd round pick or add more picks and still be assured of getting his guy. That's why he gets paid the big buck I guess.
I score this under media talk and not necessarily how scouts and GMs see him. He's still the highest graded OT in this draft by a long shot and no one has reduced that score due to his arm length. IMHO it's way over blown. He's a proven OT.
Another fact. Rashawn Slater whom Skoronski replaced was also a top draft pick of the LAC and is currently their starting LT. His arm length is only 1/2" longer than Skoronski's and Skoronski is higher ranked than Slater was. He's proven OT.
Now, due to their own preference the Bears may not rank Skoronski as highly as I do but any way you cut it this kid will soon become a top shelf NFL OL somewhere playing at OT or at OG. Short arms aside at either OT spot he's better than anyone else the Bears have on their roster now including Braxton Jones. He's proven OT.
Whatever position he ends up at, I believe he’ll be an all pro.
You're not the only one who says that by a long shot. And that's something that is rarely said about anyone but the most highly rated (and high-floor) prospects.
If that statement is reasonably accurate, then yeah you take him at #9 no matter what. Whether as a G or a T, you take him. There is literally no team in the NFL that wouldn't upgrade its OL by acquiring an All-Pro player, no matter what specific position he settles in at.
If that is your assessment, drafting him is a complete no-brainer.
Whatever position he ends up at, I believe he’ll be an all pro.
You're not the only one who says that by a long shot. And that's something that is rarely said about anyone but the most highly rated (and high-floor) prospects.
If that statement is reasonably accurate, then yeah you take him at #9 no matter what. Whether as a G or a T, you take him. There is literally no team in the NFL that wouldn't upgrade its OL by acquiring an All-Pro player, no matter what specific position he settles in at.
If that is your assessment, drafting him is a complete no-brainer.
It is but that still doesn't mean it will be Poles rationale for drafting him. If we've learned anything about him so far it's that he will more typically do what isn't expected and that at this point in time he still seems to value getting as many shots off as possible looking to build a younger roster. That alone makes me feel that if he gets an offer he likes he will trade back for lesser known ascending players.