Being a left tackle in the NFL means Braxton Jones has already been exposed to some of the best pass rushers in the league. It was a trial by fire for him last season as a 5th round rookie from Southern Utah. Nobody is ever fully prepared for that kind of jump in competition. The fact Jones survived it to start every snap in 2022 is a minor miracle. It's also a testament to his natural ability and resilience. Those are two key factors that led to him getting drafted in the first place. Hopes are high he'll take his game up another level this year.
A big part of that would be getting some good competition in training camp from the Bears' defensive line. They didn't provide much last year. Everybody on that side of the ball struggled, putting together one of the worst seasons by a Chicago front in many years. That is why GM Ryan Poles invested so many resources in overhauling the group. Mark Carman of CHGO has Jones if any new faces have made an early impact on the field. The left tackle didn't need long to mention a specific name.
Braxton Jones knows exactly what DeMarcus Walker is doing.
The veteran defensive end hasn't exactly been subtle since his arrival as a free agent from Tennessee. He's openly said that if people hear somebody on the field shouting it's time to "motherf**king" work, that is probably him. The guy is an absolute fireball of energy and intensity. That seemed to be something the Bears were missing last season. So it's easy to see why Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus targeted him. While Walker may not be the superstar teams look for, he will be a terrific glue guy that pushes everybody else.
It will also help to make Braxton Jones a better player. Walker will bring it on every play in training camp later this month. That sustained intensity against a proven veteran should only serve to make the young left tackle more tempered to what will await him in Year Two. If he can start realizing his full potential, the Bears' offensive line suddenly becomes one that opponents won't want to play against in the near future. That is especially true if Teven Jenkins and Darnell Wright also ascend.
