Ryan Poles isn't naive. He knows this upcoming off-season is the most important of his tenure as Chicago Bears GM. He's secured a new head coach, but that alone won't push this team from its dismal 5-12 finish to the playoffs next season. That will require some serious adjustments across the roster. Thankfully, he's managed the team's cache of resources well. Chicago has almost $70 million in salary cap space and four picks in the first three rounds of the draft, including the 10th overall selection.
That gives Poles plenty of options. With it being February, it seems unlikely the Bears have a concrete plan for when the draft begins. However, draft insider Tony Pauline of Sportskeedia revealed that they may have a strong idea. If the Bears have their way, the first round will unfold in two parts. First will be trading down to secure extra draft capital, and second will be honing in on one of the top offensive linemen in the class.
It should come as a surprise to no one, but the Chicago Bears will look to add multiple new faces on the offensive line in the offseason. Ben Johnson is expected to replicate what was done in Detroit and bring in a lot of big-bodied blockers. I'm told the priority is interior offensive linemen.
There is an opinion the team could look to trade the 10th pick and move down, collecting additional selections and loading up on blockers. If they can't move that pick, the obvious targets would be Will Campbell of LSU or Kelvin Banks Jr. of Texas. The Bears like Josh Conerly Jr. of Oregon, who could be a target if they are able to trade down, and Wyatt Milum of West Virginia, who they view as a second-round guard.
The Chicago Bears' interest in Conerly checks out.
Poles has traditionally preferred offensive linemen with two key traits: length and athleticism. The Oregon left tackle has both. His arms are 34 inches long, and it's evident from watching the tape that he's one of the most fluid movers at his position in the draft. Nobody has put together a better past few months than Conerly. He was dominant in the second half of the Ducks' season and carried that into a great week at the Senior Bowl. Many feel he's still just scratching the surface of his full potential. A frequent comparison for him is Buffalo Bills Pro Bowler Dion Dawkins.
While the interior offensive line is an obvious focal point, many feel the Chicago Bears have to get serious about upgrading at left tackle. Braxton Jones has been serviceable in that role for the past three seasons, but nobody believes he is the long-term future of this franchise. Taking Conerly would give the organization its first pair of 1st round tackles since Jimbo Covert and Keith Van Horne in the 1980s. Adding an extra pick or two would also allow Poles to bolster other key positions.
