The Chicago Bears are one of the bigger mysteries of the 1st round. Coming into March, everybody was convinced they were targeting an offensive lineman with the 10th overall pick next month. That has gone out the window after the team acquired three new starters via trade and free agency. Defensive line is also not a lock after the arrivals of Grady Jarrett and Dayo Odeyingbo. GM Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson have popped the door wide open to do practically anything. Some believe, based on how the first nine picks could unfold, that Penn State tight end Tyler Warren is the guy to pick.
It seems somewhat unlikely. The Bears already have a proven tight end in Cole Kmet, so drafting another one that high seems counterproductive on the surface. They have more pressing needs at running back, left tackle, and edge rusher. Then again, sometimes the smart thing to do is just take the best player on the board and figure it out later. Bob McGinn of Go Long TD spoke to multiple scouts about Warren looking ahead to the draft. Many believe passing on him would be a colossal error.
He is that talented.
"For a really big guy he is a good athlete. His feel for the game is rare. He’s nifty for being so big, his hands are excellent and he plays big. His run after the catch — he’s nasty. He tries to run over people. As a blocker, he’ll get in the way. He’s got some grit and toughness. He’s not dynamic by any stretch but the guy is really good. Better than (Brock) Bowers."...
...“If you want to nitpick, he is not a wow matchup athlete,” said a fourth scout. “He’s not Travis Kelce that’s fast and quick in his routes. But you kind of forget how big he is. He’s got (Rob) Gronkowski size, and for that size he’s a good athlete. He’s a Y (conventional) tight end that’s really talented. Y’s are hard to find; most of them run 5.0. He can play F (split receiver), too. You could put him in a wildcat and make him a goal-line runner. He has can’t-miss character. He’s going to be an outstanding pro.”
Tyler Warren is the type of player the Bears would love.
From Johnson's point of view, Warren is a terrific utility player. He can line up anywhere on the field and make something happen. The Bears head coach loves getting creative with ways to use players. Not only was the tight end an elite pass-catcher, but he proved to be dangerous on the ground two. He had 26 carries for 218 yards and four touchdowns last season. If that weren't enough, Tyler Warren showcased his blocking prowess while helping Penn State post not one but two 1,000-yard rushers in the same season.
It is worth noting the Bears have gone tight end in the 1st round only twice in their long history. The first was Mike Ditka in 1961. He revolutionized the position and became a Hall of Famer. The other was Greg Olsen. He was instrumental in the Bears' last playoff victory and went on to four Pro Bowls in his career. It sounds like Warren is in that same tier. Plenty of teams have excelled with two playmaking tight ends in the past. If Warren is better than Brock Bowers, who just set the single-season rookie record last year, then it's an easy decision.
