NFL Draft Profile: Kelvin Banks Jr. |
With the hardest schedule in the NFL remaining, the Bearse are finding new ways to lose; wins are going to be tough to come by. The Bears' future is looking less clear by the second, and with every mounting loss, they are getting closer to punting the season away and starting to focus on the draft.
You never want that to happen this early in the season, but the reality of where this team is puts it closer to a top-10 pick than an actual playoff berth. If we are to focus on the draft for the sake of this column, there should only be one need for the Bears to focus on, as it is the one area they fail to address. That area would be the offensive line, and unless they want Caleb Williams to get hurt, they need to address that area of the ball soon. Having a good offensive line is crucial in today's game, and the Bears haven't had one in forever. It's almost comical that is the case, considering their GM, Ryan Poles, was a former offensive lineman, but here we are with the Bears still having a terrible Offensive Line. Knowing that is the biggest area of need for this team, this would be the draft to focus on OL talent, as there are plenty of names to keep tabs on. One of those names is who the Bears have been linked to in their most recent mock draft, as University of Texas Tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. is a name to watch for on draft night. Now in his third year as a Texas starter, Banks plays on a balanced offensive attack that prides itself on quick games, RPOs, and motion. If that sounds familiar, the Chicago Bears do a lot of those same things, which you saw against the Packers last weekend. Not only does Banks appear to be a good fit, but he is known for his athleticism, compact build, and good timing on combo blocks. This current Bears offensive line lacks all of that, so having an athletic tackle capable of making all sorts of blocks would be huge for Chicago's future success. Despite playing in an offensive system that is balanced across the board, Blanks' strength is in the run game, which is also something the Bears need to improve. When you watch the film, Banks is one of those guys who not only gets his hands on you, but once he does, he tends to push his opponents into the second level, leading to big gains on the ground. He may not be as good with pass blocking as he is with run blocking, but he still displays fantastic technique with great footwork. This isn't the first time Banks has been linked to the Bears, as the last two mock drafts have him penciled in with Chicago. Of course, if the Bears are to go offensive line, which they should, you have to wonder who will be the odd man out in next year's rotation. Ryan Bates is one of the guys who immediately comes to mind, as he is the oldest of the group. Bates was signed to a one-year deal but has played well enough to earn another contract if the Bears see fit. Then you have the Braxton Jones, Larry Borum, and Teven Jenkins conundrum. All three guys have shown potential but haven't done it consistently enough. Jenkins and Borum are the biggest question marks, as neither of them can consistently stay healthy, leaving their future in question.
