ESPN Mock Draft has Bears picking Georgia standout OL Broderick Jones

Mark Rebilas - USA Today Sports

by Tony Crumpton - Senior Editor - Friday, March 31, 2023, 11:32 AM

As the NFL Draft approaches, speculation and mock drafts continue to swirl around which players teams will select.

According to Jordan Reid of ESPN in their latest NFL Mock Draft, the Chicago Bears are likely to address their offensive line needs with their No. 9 overall pick, selecting Broderick Jones, an offensive tackle from Georgia.

"Don't be surprised if Jones is the top offensive tackle off the board," Reid said. "I continue to hear his name in this range. General manager Ryan Poles covets length and physical traits, and Jones might have the most upside of the tackles in this class. The interesting dynamic about this is that Braxton Jones, a fifth-round pick last year, showed promise as the starter at left tackle. Would Jones slot into the right or left tackle spot here? It's a great problem to have for a Chicago team that continues to remodel its offense around quarterback Justin Fields."

While the Bears have already moved back from the No. 1 overall pick, there is still much work to be done to improve the team. The addition of a talented offensive lineman like Jones could be just the beginning of the Bears' efforts to improve their play in the trenches and build a strong foundation for future success.

With the first of two second-rounders, Reid has the Bears taking Isaiah Foskey, an edge from Notre Dame.

"General manager Ryan Poles should use assets toward a defensive line that struggled last season. To put into context how bad the Bears' pass rush was a year ago, safety Jaquan Brisker led them in sacks -- with four. Foskey put up 11 in back-to-back seasons for the Fighting Irish," Reid said.