2024 Bears Draft Target: KT Leveston |
It's a great time to be a Bears fan right now, as things are looking up for this franchise. Not only do the Bears have two first-round picks in this year's draft, but they have the No. 1 overall selection for the second straight year. That alone gives them a chance to draft Caleb Williams, and should that be done, everyone in Chicago would be up in open arms.
Along with the top pick comes plenty of money to address your needs in free agency while going about your business to try and extend guys like Jaylon Johnson and Cole Kmet to keep them around for many years. Getting back to the draft for a bit which will be a crucial part of the Bears success this season and you can identify the needs of this team. Whether you are for or against Justin Fields, the Bears need better QB play, so targeting Williams seems logical. You also need more WR help to give DJ Moore, which is where another first-round pick could be used. However, one thing the Bears seem to have every year is the offensive line, which is the case again this season. Chicago could help address that need by taking Joe Alt out of Notre Dame at No. 9, but should they pass on him or if he isn't available, the Bears have other options for offensive line help. One of those options hails from Manhatten, Kansas, at Kansas State and would be a steal on day two of the draft in KT Leveston. A bit of a prospect at this point, Leveston is a versatile player who can play either the tackle or guard position. Some view him as an oversized guard like Teven Jenkins, but could also see him as a backup tackle waiting for an opportunity to see the field. One of the oldest, if not the oldest, prospect in this year's class, the 25-year-old Leveston is a massive load on the line, standing at 6-5 and weighing 330 pounds. Selected to the East vs West Shrine game this season, Leveston was an Outland Trophy Watchlist player who also earned first-team All-Big 12 Academic honors. For his career, Leveston was an all-Big 12 honorable mention who played in many games but only made 12 starts. Those starts proved to be effective as he was called for just one penalty over 1842 snaps. A big reason for his success on the line is a strong lower half that allows him to anchor his body against pass rushers and push them back. He also plays with good leverage on the line, which leads to a physical style of play to help finish off runs. The Bears have been a run-first offense for the better part of three seasons, so having a guy not afraid to play through the whistle is a massive plus. Leveston also has a tremendous football IQ, which helps in the versatility side as he can recognize blitz packages before they happen, making it easier for the offense to convert. He is just what this team could use, even if it were as a reserve role player for now. Even with the smarts and his overall versatility on the line, Leveston still needs the lateral quickness to take on speed rushers, which would be an issue at the next level. Despite his ability to drive his blockers back in the run game, Leveston often needs help to get to the second level, which is surprising when you look at his size. He isn't great at the tackle or guard position, but having the experience and ability to play both is always good for any organization. When you look at the Bears offensive line right now, their biggest need is at the guard position so Leveston could play the guard spot in the NFL. With Cody Whitehair expected to be cut and Jenkins continuing to deal with injuries, Levenston would give the Bears a nice depth piece behind the likes of Darnell Wright and Braxton Jones. Leveston may not be the best fit for a zone-blocking scheme like the Bears, but his versatility has proven he can adjust to that and play any scheme. Comparable to Phil Haynes and Anthony Bradford, whom Shane Waldron had a hand in drafting in 2019 and 2023, Leveston is a project that could become a plug-and-play guy on this line who could move all over if needed.
