Chicago Bears Had Official Visit With Big, Freaky Blocker

The Chicago Bears are in the process of setting their board for the upcoming NFL draft. Obviously this will involve figuring out who is actually attainable for them since they have no 1st round pick. Their draft starts at #43 in the 2nd round barring a trade up. So they have to be realistic about which players have a reasonable chance of reaching that selection.

One name that just popped up on the radar is a good example. According to Jordan Reid of The Draft Network, the Bears had an official visit with Houston left tackle Josh Jones. One of the 30 they're allotted by the league. This is a clear indication that they have a level of significant interest. Based on what Reid's colleague Kyle Crabbs wrote about him, it's not hard to see why.

"Josh Jones is a high ceiling, low floor offensive tackle prospect who is an OL coach's dream. With his natural skills, Jones showcases dominant physical flashes on the field and possesses the athletic ability to be a dominant pass blocker and weapon in the run game. But Jones' skills need significant polish from the ground up — he's still raw with his pass sets and footwork and can be too reactive in live action to over-set or over-pursue. Ideally he can be weaned into a starting role in the NFL."

Josh Jones is a perfect choice for the Chicago Bears

The 2020 offensive tackle class is lauded for being one of the most stacked in recent memory. It's hardly a surprise the Bears would want to take advantage. It also makes perfect sense that they see Jones as an option. Sure he might not be a Day 1 starter, but that's not what they need. Charles Leno Jr. and Bobby Massie are secure for this season in those spots due to their contracts. However, that will change in 2021. Odds are one of them will be gone.

At that point, Jones will have had a full year of work learning under veteran line coach Juan Castillo. He'd be ready to step right in and take over as a starter. An ideal succession plan. If he's able to reach his considerable potential, any team that drafts him will have a likely starter for the next 7-10 years. Something the Bears haven't really enjoyed on their offensive line for a long time. Especially at tackle.