Meet The OT Former Chicago Bears Scout Calls A "Perfect" Fit

It's not a question of if the Chicago Bears will draft offensive line help but when. GM Ryan Poles has said multiple times that he wants to continue building the front five. He believes the key to a successful offense starts up front. The urgency remains high after watching Justin Fields get sacked 55 times last season. While a 1st round move for a tackle seems unlikely unless the Bears trade to the bottom of the top 10, there is a strong possibility they could go for one in the 2nd or 3rd rounds.

The obvious challenge is finding somebody that can give them help immediately. Former Bears scout Greg Gabriel thinks he has one name to watch for. He's reviewed several of the top prospects in this class. When it comes to ability, mental makeup, and scheme fit, there is one name that stands out above others. It is Matthew Bergeron of Syracuse.

"Matthew is a French Canadian from Quebec. He has been a multi-year starter at left tackle for Syracuse and is strong, athletic, and nasty. He is a perfect fit for Chicago's offense, and I see no reason why he couldn't play on the right side. He will go in the later part of the first round or somewhere early in the second."

This is correct if we're talking about what the Bears were in 2022. Bergeron is big, athletic, and physical as a run blocker. He moves really well. The problem is evaluators have concerns about his pass protection, which is said to be inconsistent. Not ideal if the objective is to protect Fields better.

The question for the Chicago Bears is whether he can improve.

Pass protection can be taught. Good coaching corrects technique errors. Those are said to be the primary issue with Bergeron. His footwork was off, and his hand usage was way too erratic. However, there were some promising signs at the Senior Bowl that he is cleaning up some of those problems. His quick and fluid feet stood out. One lingering question is his length. Reports have him at around 33 inches. That isn't bad, but it's considered barely average for offensive tackles. Poles has said many times they prefer players with length.

It will be interesting to see how Bergeron looks at the scouting combine. Measurements and drills will tell a lot of the story. Undoubtedly, the Chicago Bears would like a lot of what the young man offers. Whether it's enough remains unclear. Perhaps they might see him as more of a guard, where his length limitations won't be an issue. NFL.com compared him to Joel Bitonio, the Pro Bowl guard in Cleveland. Somebody like that can benefit your team even if it's not at the position you anticipated.