Chicago Bears: 3 reasons why James Daniels was the perfect pick

Solidifies interior line

I saved the best for last.  Earlier I mentioned that some fans might wonder why the Chicago Bears selected a center when they already have Cody Whitehair.  Well, the answer is really quite simple.  The Bears now have the option to move Whitehair back to left guard.

Fans will recall that Whitehair originally started as a guard, but moved to center when Hroniss Grasu struggled at the position.  Daniels’ arrival could allow Whitehair to move back to guard, filling the void left by Josh Sitton.  In addition, fans won’t have to cringe every time Whitehair snaps the ball in a shotgun formation.

However, a very recent report suggests that the Bears might actualy start off Daniels at left guard.  This may be a way to get Daniels comfortable with the speed of the NFL game before transitioning him to center.  It could also be their long-term plan.

In any event, with some combination of Whitehair, Daniels and Kyle Long the Bears have solidified their interior line.  This is key for a couple of reasons. First, it’s no secret that Jordan Howard likes to do most of his damage between the tackles.

In addition, two of their biggest NFC North rivals strengthened their defensive interior line this offseason. Specifically, the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings added Sheldon Richardson and Muhammad Wilkerson respectively. Having three young beasts to anchor your interior line for the next decade bodes well for the Bears’ run game and Mitch Trubisky’s protection.

Next: Bears draft stud offensive lineman James Daniels

Bottom Line

The Chicago Bears knocked it out of the park with their initial second-round pick. They got an instant starter, at a key position, a round later than they should have. Ryan Pace is off to a hot start in the 2018 NFL Draft. As a result, fans hope this momentum continues into the season for the Bears.