Big Left Tackle Reportedly Has Chicago Bears Attention At Senior Bowl

The Chicago Bears are busy down in Mobile, Alabama this week attending the Senior Bowl. It is one of the most important pre-draft events there are. A perfect showcase for potential prospects on the field and a chance for teams to meet and interview them. Already the Bears have met with two noteworthy names in North Carolina running back Michael Carter and Oklahoma State wide receiver Tylan Wallace. Now a third name may be joining that list via Daniel Greenberg of FanSided. Apparently, the Bears representatives met with North Dakota State left tackle Dillon Radunz on Thursday night following the day's practices. That makes the third offensive prospect they've met with the possibility there are more. A clear indication of where their focus will be this offseason.

Radunz is an interesting name that deserves attention.

The Bears have question marks on their offensive line but especially at tackle. Bobby Massie finished the year injured. Germain Ifedi and Jason Spriggs are both free agents. Charles Leno remained average as always. It's been a long time since this team invested a high draft pick in that position. Too long. Would Radunz make for a quality addition? Based on what experts are saying, that is a big yes. At 6'5, 300 lbs he's already large but has the frame to get bigger. He's athletic for his size, showing an ability to mirror rushers in pass protection and flashes violent hands. Where he truly excels is the running game though. Radunz is a mauler, routinely plowing open lanes for his backs. Word is he's been putting on a show down in Mobile.

Chicago Bears have good reasons to like Radunz

The big question marks with him weren't physical. He seems to have the talent necessary to be a starter in the NFL. What wasn't certain for a lot of teams was whether he could handle going against better competition. After all, he made his name down in the FCS playing largely inferior defensive ends and outside linebackers. Can he really do the same against guys from Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State, and Notre Dame? Early accounts say yes. He doesn't appear intimidated by the moment at all. He's giving back every bit of what he's taken. Radunz is far from a finished product but the building blocks are there. Somebody like Juan Castillo should be able to mold him into a future stalwart on the Chicago Bears offensive line. It comes down to if they'll be able to get him.

The odds are growing that Radunz will be a 1st round pick.

This means the Bears will have a dilemma. Do they save their 20th pick to perhaps take him or do they focus it on helping them to find a quarterback? As of right now, it's looking like the latter. That being said, there is no telling how this offseason will go. If the Bears strike out on the QB front, "settling" for somebody like Radunz wouldn't be a terrible consolation prize. It would at least set up the offense for future success.