GM Ryan Pace wasn't going to give anything away two days before the NFL draft. He wanted everybody guessing. His actions and words have fed into that narrative for the Chicago Bears. He cut Trey Burton, leading to speculation they'd target a tight end. He downplayed the idea that wide receivers were a big need for the team. If that weren't enough, he all but telegraphed the idea they would grab a cornerback early. Love or hate him, the man is a master of misdirection.
That didn't stop Bears insider Adam Jahns of The Athletic from speculating on what the team will do. While most of the discussions center around whether Pace will trade up or down in the draft, Jahns was focused more on the positions he might target the most. Ask anybody and they'd probably say those mentioned above. However, his choice proved to be a bit of a surprise and certainly interesting given his well-known connections to the Bears' inner workings.
"5. Here’s a bold prediction: The Bears will draft more than one offensive lineman.
This might not sound bold but Pace has only drafted five linemen in his five drafts as the Bears GM. He didn’t draft one last year, either.
Surprisingly, it’s not an alarmingly low number compared to other teams."
Chicago Bears could be looking at big OL overhaul in 2021
In a way, this makes sense. The offensive line is the straw that stirs the drink and the Bears' straw was broken last season. They couldn't get any push in the ground game and were inconsistent in pass protection most of the season. Head coach Matt Nagy made his displeasure about that known on more than one occasion. Combine that with the arrival of a new offensive line coach in Juan Castillo? It makes sense they'd aim towards making considerable changes.
The 2020 crop of offensive linemen is strong, especially at offensive tackle. Both Bobby Massie and Charles Leno regressed in a big way last season. They're safe from removal due to their contracts but it's quite possible one or even both of them might be gone by next year. Obviously the Bears will want to have options ready for that eventuality. Then there is the obvious void at right guard they've yet to definitively fill despite the addition of Germain Ifedi in free agency.
Adding multiple offensive linemen in the draft not only gives them depth but also options for the future.
