Chicago Bears 2022 Draft Sleepers: Offensive Line Edition

GM Ryan Poles declared the offensive line would be a primary focus for him moving forward. He certainly has work to do in that regard. Three of the Chicago Bears' five starters from last season are free agents with no guarantee any of them will be back. Cody Whitehair and Teven Jenkins feel like the only locks to play next season with even Larry Borom surrounded by questions. This will make life challenging for Poles. Filling one or two offensive line spots in a single offseason is hard enough. Three is pushing it. He will need some favorable luck involved. That may include scoring a hidden gem in the upcoming NFL draft. The good news is that this appears to be a class with some quality depth to it. Enough to where the Bears might be able to find an eventual starter or two beyond the early rounds. Here are some names to keep an eye on.

Chicago Bears 2022 draft options are rich on the O-line

Tyler Smith (Tulsa)

Poles said that one of the priorities he'd have for offensive linemen moving forward is a greater emphasis on nastiness. He wants blockers ready and willing to fight. Few things sum up Smith better. He played with a constant edge at Tulsa, seizing every opportunity to punish defenders. Sometimes that got him in trouble, resulting in technique lapses that led to missed assignments or penalties. Still, his excellent mix of size (6'6, 330 lbs) and athleticism can make him a starting left tackle in the NFL. If not, he can be a mainstay at guard as well.

Tyler Vrabel (Boston College)

If the name sounds familiar, it should. This is the son of reigning NFL Coach of the Year Mike Vrabel. One thing that is always apparent with the sons of coaches is they understand the game far better than most kids their age. Vrabel is no exception. He proved this by playing well at both left and right tackle for Boston College. He's big, strong, aggressive, and displays polished footwork. There are lingering concerns about his posture and bend, but those too can be fixed with persistent coaching. If the Chicago Bears don't want to try him at tackle, then he should have no issues moving inside.

Ed Ingram (LSU)

LSU always puts great talent into the NFL. Probably one of the most overlooked areas they've delivered some gems is the offensive line. See Andrew Whitworth, Trai Turner, La'El Collins, and Lloyd Cushenberry III. Ingram is another talent that is getting overlooked. He played both guard spots in college and established a reputation as a powerful and nasty run blocker. This belies his technical prowess in pass protection and underrated athleticism. He can move well. This kid will start for somebody and be a good football player. It is just unfortunate he played when the program was in transition.

Cade Mays (Tennessee)

One trait that can never be appreciated enough in the NFL is versatility. The more you can do for a team, the higher your value. Mays understands this. He was a Swiss army knife for Tennessee, playing all five offensive line positions at various points during his time there. His size is premium for a center (6'6, 325 lbs) as he has the power to handle bull rushes but can still move well enough to operate in space. Most of his issues are technique-related. Not talent. Once he's allowed to settle at one position, he should end up becoming an above-average starter. Poles is probably aware of him, having helped Kansas City draft teammate Trey Smith last year.

Spencer Burford (Texas-San Antonio)

Drafting prospects from smaller schools can be dangerous. The Chicago Bears know this well. There is no way to know if they can handle a steep jump in competition to the NFL. This is why two questions are asked. Are they really talented, and did they dominate their level of competition? For Burford, the answer is yes on both counts. His size and athleticism stood out often. Not to mention his energy and aggression. He loves playing physical. The best part is his natural football, and great length make him difficult to beat in pass protection. Like any small-school prospect, he has technique issues. With some cleaning up, he can play tackle or guard in the NFL.