Chicago Bears 2019 NFL Draft Primer: Everything you need to know

16. Offensive lineman to know

With Charles Leno Jr. under contract until 2021, Bobby Massie under contract until 2022, Cody Whitehair set to receive an extension, and James Daniels on a rookie deal, the Bears offensive line is set for the near future. However, even then, the Bears should look to add to the offensive line.

There are two main reasons for this. First, Kyle Long has failed to stay healthy and the Bears offensive line seems to take a step back when he’s injured. Adding a quality depth piece would likely mean this doesn’t happen. And second, the Bears may have to consider moving on from Leno or Massie, or even both at the end of their contracts.

Two names to keep an eye would be Guard Alex Bars from Notre Dame and Tackles Max Scharping from Northern Illinois University. Both will likely be available on day three, so the Bears have a chance to develop two prospects with future starting potential.

Up first is Scharping who’s started nearly 50 games in college. What makes him a unique prospect is the fact that while in college, he played three positions on the offensive line: Left and right tackle and guard. Scharping is the type of low risk, high reward type player that could thrive under the guidance of offensive line coach Harry Hiestand.

Bars, on the other hand, is familiar with Bears offensive line coach Harry Hiestand as the two were together at Notre Dame for three-years. One red flag with Bars is the fact that he injured his knee during his final season in college. He is however solid in the run game and despite having played both guard and tackle, would project better as a guard at the NFL level.

Overall, both Scharping and Bars are interesting prospects. As of right now, the better prospect is clearly Scharping who’d be available in the fourth or fifth rounds while Bars projects to be a seventh-round pick or could even slip into the undrafted free agent pool. Regardless, these are two names the Bears should keep an eye on.