Perfect Fits For Every Chicago Bears Offensive Position In 2022 Draft
The Chicago Bears know that they need to get better on offense. It isn’t a secret. This statement has rung true since 2014. They’ve had intermittent sequences of success, but rarely beyond a few weeks in a row before returning to their usual awfulness. Talent plays the biggest role in these situations, and the Bears have been lacking across most positions for years. That is something GM Ryan Poles, head coach Matt Eberflus, and offensive coordinator Luke Getsy are hoping to correct.
That said, they also know that fit matters almost as much as talent. Fit for culture and fit for systems. Having those two things in mind often helps an organization to narrow their draft board further, identifying the players they should covet above others. When looking at where the team is drafting this year and the overall state of the 2022 class, I pinpointed one player at every offensive position group that fits what they want to do.
And who they want to be.
Putting these Pierre Strong Jr clips on the timeline so you understand why Mike McDaniel is inevitably going to be obsessed with him. pic.twitter.com/geBENTYwwq
— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) March 9, 2022
Chicago Bears will find gems if they stick to their preferences
Quarterback: EJ Perry (Brown)
Yes, Justin Fields is the unquestioned starter moving forward for the Bears. That will not be a discussion. Still, smart teams always continue tinkering with that position. There is no rule against adding talent when opportunities arise. Perry is a fascinating case-study. He has enough size for the NFL to go along with a live arm, decent accuracy, and solid mobility. His athletic profile fits the type of scheme Chicago will run. Coming from an Ivy League school also means intelligence isn’t a problem. The big thing for Perry will be whether he can over the turnover issues that dogged him in college.
Running back: Pierre Strong (South Dakota State)
The Shanahan-style outside zone offense is unique when it comes to the running back position. Most times you’d prefer the strongest and/or fastest player at the position. However, that isn’t necessarily the case here. The backs that have thrived in this offense had two key traits: elite vision and good quickness. They were able to identify where the holes would be and then slip through them. Strong demonstrated time and again that those were two of his biggest strengths. His 1600 yards and 18 touchdowns last season were testament to that. Never mind his understated speed. Eberflus wants a change-of-pace back. Strong can be that and plenty more.
Shaun Wade’s coverage: good
Jahan Dotson’s play: SLIIIIIIIIIGHTLY better pic.twitter.com/ira66P3seT
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) November 1, 2020
Wide receiver: Jahan Dotson (Penn State)
Poles said from the start that the Chicago Bears will prioritize speed on offense moving forward. He’s held true to his word thus far and there’s no reason to suspect that will change in the draft. Getsy may also press the team to focus on route-running too, having been a receivers coach a few years back. Dotson checks both of those boxes. While not the biggest or strongest at his position, the young talent showcased a consistent ability to create separation with smooth routes, acceleration, and speed. He is much craftier as a player than he gets credit for and plays with a hot competitive streak.
Offensive line: Cole Strange (Tennessee-Chattanooga)
Like with running backs, there is a particular type of offensive lineman required to function in an outside zone offense. He must be smart but more importantly, he has to have mobility. He’ll be getting out in space a lot. Then there is Poles’ demand for more aggressive and violent blockers. “Pricks” he calls them. Strange is just the guy for the job. Though he comes from a smaller school, he proved at the Senior Bowl he can hang with some of the best prospects in the country. His size and quickness make it easy for him to move laterally and the guy is ready to wage war on every single snap.
Jake Ferguson & Charlie Kolar… They win at the top of routes and catch damn near everything. QBs best friends on 3rd down…
Size, Y-TE skillset, Hands ✅ pic.twitter.com/hl2J7ZQW4Q
— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) March 31, 2022
Tight end: Jake Ferguson (Wisconsin)
When looking at the Shanahan-style offense over the years, the tight end that often thrives the most in it isn’t a traditional one. They must be athletic, reasonably fast, and have a great pair of hands for catching. Think Shannon Sharp, Owen Daniels, and George Kittle. Blocking is secondary. Ferguson proved over multiple years that he was a receiving threat for the Badgers, displaying a mix of down-the-field ability mixed with strong hands and toughness. Considering Wisconsin’s QB inconsistency and run-first mentality, his 1,618 yards, and 13 touchdowns stood out across four years of work.