Don't let anybody fool you. While GMs will say they can't predict which players will be available later in a draft, that is only partially true. Teams run countless simulations, using their own evaluations and the info they gather from around the league to gauge where and when certain prospects go. This way, they have a good idea of who they should have circled whenever they go back on the clock in a given round. Ryan Poles and the Chicago Bears do this as well. A good example was Kyler Gordon and Jaquan Brisker. Poles was confident one of them would be there in the 2nd round when Chicago went on the clock. In the end, he got both.
That is why it is always important to pay attention to certain names when they pop up multiple times around a team leading up to the draft. One that popped up a few weeks ago was Kiran Amegadjie, a big offensive tackle out of Yale. The Bears had him for a top 30 visit already, which history indicates they have a level of serious interest. That was further hammered home when uSTADIUM revealed that only two teams sent their offensive line coaches to Yale's pro day. One was the New York Jets. The other was the Bears.
The Chicago Bears' interest in Amegadjie is understandable.
Poles loves big athletes with length. He's proven that many times over the previous two drafts. The Ivy League standout checks those boxes at 6'5, 320 lbs, and 36-inch arms. He is remarkably nimble for somebody that big, showcasing quick feet to handle pass rushers on the edge. His power in the run game also stands out. Amegadjie isn't afraid to get nasty on the ground. So why would the Bears think he has a chance to reach them in the 3rd round when they finally pick again after 9th overall?
There are a few plausible reasons. For one, Amegadji missed most of last season with a quad injury. Teams don't have much recent tape on him. He also played mostly second-rate competition in college. It is hard to project how he'll handle the jump in talent he will battle. Lastly is his development. He still has some technical flaws that will take time to iron out. The kid isn't somebody who will be ready to play as a rookie. However, if you have the patience to work with him, he has high-end starter upside.
