Obvious Bears Post-Free Agency Interest

Mock drafts are starting to point in a new direction for the Bears.

At least according to the website NFLmockdraftdatabase.com, the thinking has finally flipped from Jalen Carter/Will Anderson Jr. and the defensive side to the offensive side of the ball.

With the ninth pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears will pick Northwestern tackle Peter Skoronski, according to half of all mock drafts being tracked by the website.

Earlier mocks had a heavy defensive lean, and since the trade down from No. 1 there hadn't been a clear candidate emerge. 

However, the need for an offensive tackle, the inability of the Bears to land one in free agency and the availability in the draft of three tackles at No. 9 make this an ideal position and place for one to be taken. The data base of mocks is now at 907 surveyed and Skoronski was the choice on 50% of mocks for the Bears at No. 9.

Skoronski grew up in Park Ridge, just down the interstate from Halas Hall, and is the grandson of Lombardi era Packers offensive lineman Bob Skoronski.

The mocks had both Ohio State tackle Paris Johnson Jr. and Georgia tackle Broderick Jones going after Skoronski. 

Johnson went to the Tennessee Titans at No. 11 on 38% of mocks and Jones to the Jets on 56% of mock drafts as of Sunday.

Skoronski's position is the real mystery as his lack of arm length has led to great speculation he will be a guard at the next level. The Bears definitely wouldn't need a guard, as it seems they have one guard, Cody Whitehair, slated for playing center and they still have other guards available after the acquisition of Titans guard Nate Jones in free agency.

According to NFLmockdraftable.com, Skoronski's arm length of 32 1/4 inches is in the bottom 4% for tackles and his wingspan of 79 1/2 inches in the bottom 9%. He's also in the bottom 8% for tackles at a height of 6-foot-4.

However, he graded out in the upper 3% of tackles for vertical leap at 34 1/2 inches and the upper 30% in the 40-yard dash at 5.16 seconds, while his 30 reps at 225 pounds in the bench press were the upper 14%. Skoronski's great athletic numbers are more typical of what guards post than tackles.

Skoronski is viewed as the 13th best player in this draft on the NFLmockdraftdatabase consensus big board. Johnson is actually regarded higher on the board at No. 10. Jones is 19th rated on that big board.

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