Ben Johnson Already Steering Bears Towards Key Draft Prospect

It became clear from the outset that new head coach Ben Johnson wasn't going to be a guy who sat back and let GM Ryan Poles make all the roster decisions. He intends to be fully involved in every step of the scouting process. Like any good coach, he has a specific vision for this team and needs specific types of players to carry it out. No doubt he and Poles have already had conversations about which players in the upcoming 2025 NFL draft they should be paying attention to. An update from the Senior Bowl may have provided an answer.

According to Jordan Sigler of Athlon Sports, Texas Tech offensive lineman Caleb Rogers revealed that Chicago has expressed a great degree of interest in him. What does this have to do with Johnson, you're probably asking? Rogers has drawn comparisons to longtime NFL veteran Billy Turner. The Miami Dolphins drafted him in 2014, and Johnson was an assistant on their offensive staff at that time. So, the fact that he likes a player who plays a similar type of game makes plenty of sense.

Ben Johnson seems to have a specific type on the O-line.

Rogers immediately jumps out with his mixture of size, power, and mobility. He has the length to ward off pass rushers as a tackle but also the power to drive guys off the ball as a guard or center. He has played all over the line in college, showcasing excellent versatility. Rogers is also highly experienced, starting five seasons for Texas Tech. While most of that came at tackle, most believe he has all the tools to move inside to guard. To top it off, he has a reputation for energy and physicality in his play style.

One can understand why Ben Johnson likes him. Those traits make up many of the Detroit Lions' offensive line. It is only natural that he'd seek more of the same in Chicago. Johnson's offense is devastating when it can control the line of scrimmage. The Bears have lots of work to do before reaching that level of play. Adding somebody like Rogers would be a step in the right direction. Expectations are he will go somewhere on day two of the draft. Chicago has three picks in that range.