Chicago Bears: The NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, Shrine Game offer draft intrigue

Focusing on areas of need for the Chicago Bears and the offensive line is certainly one of them.

With Bobby Massie ticketed for free agency and the growing uncertainty surrounding Kyle Long and his future with the organization, the offensive line is going to be a position of need this offseason.

Unfortunately, it’s not like many of these guys are world-beaters at the line of scrimmage. With this showcase, that’s something that needs to be understood. Nevertheless, here are the highlights:

Calvin Anderson, OT, University of Texas: The former Longhorn was actually a three-year starter at Rice University. He transferred to Austin as a graduate and slotted in right away as a 14 game starter. His reward was an Honorable Mention All-Big 12 accolade. He also checks in at six-foot, five-inches, 300 pounds. More than likely, he’ll wind up going as a day three pick with the opportunity to push into the third round.

Juwann Bushell-Beatty, OL, University of Michigan: In preparation for the draft, Bushell-Beatty opted to sit out the Peach Bowl versus Florida. Last season saw him claim All-Big Ten honors. He started in 33 games at Michigan, 18 of them at tackle (17 on the right side). So versatility is the name of his game. He also has special teams chops, which certainly will help him solidify what should be a mid-round grade.

Martez Ivey, OT, University of Florida: Ivey was a top five-star recruit coming out of high school but had a rough start at the college level (slightly torn meniscus as a freshman). He’s been trending up since then. Rob Rang of ‘NFL Draft Scout’ has reason to believe that he’s still growing as a prospect. I would wager that he plays guard at the pro level, as he struggled against the top SEC pass rushers like Josh Allen and Montez Sweat. A strong Shrine Game can alleviate some of those concerns.