Chicago Bears: 5 intriguing draft prospects team has met with

James Daniels, Guard/Center, Iowa

Offensive line is an area, like I mentioned, where the Bears need to figure out at least one starter. Cody Whitehair‘s versatility will have a lot to do with where they go in the draft, and if James Daniels is available in the second, the Bears would likely bring him to Chicago.

At the moment, Daniels is projected as a late-first, early-second prospect. That’s right where the Bears could take him, too, with their early second-rounder.

Chicago met with Daniels in a private meeting. The funny thing about the Bears and private meetings over the last few years is that they typically don’t end up drafting those guys.

But, that’s not set in stone. The Bears could have really liked what they heard in their meeting with Daniels, and certainly like what he can do on the field. He would be perfect for the Bears offense — an offense that requires a lot of movement. Daniels is quick and can do just about anything asked of a guard or center when it comes to athleticism.

One of the main knocks on Daniels is his inability to handle bull rushes well. If he were to beef up a bit, that issue may take care of itself. Otherwise, his movement is excellent.

The thing I like about Daniels is what I like about a lot of centers — he is intelligent. What many average fans may not know, is that to play the center position in football, you must know every assignment for your fellow linemen — not just your own. So Daniels, along with every other center, needs to know the playbook inside and out when it comes to all linemen and their assignments.

As the center, you’re responsible, just as much as the quarterback, for identifying changes in the defensive front.