Chicago Bears establish their identity in this 2022 mock draft
Finally, an offensive lineman!
Getting lighter and more athletic along the offensive line was one the first real nuggets that Poles revealed in what he was trying to accomplish. Adding Chattanooga’s Cole Strange does just that.
Cole Strange is a OG prospect in the 2022 draft class. He scored a 9.95 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 7 out of 1198 OG from 1987 to 2022. https://t.co/RRKLKRSIJK #RAS pic.twitter.com/AmOOtlREpk
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 18, 2022
Strange posted excellent athletic testing numbers at the combine, and his tape told the same story. He glided with ease in Chattanooga’s outside zone scheme. If Luke Getsy is true to his Shanahan roots, then Bears fans should see a similar scheme that Strange thrived in.
There is also a lot to like about Strange in pass protection. For being rather tall at 6′ 4,” he plays with ideal leverage and has some crazy hip flection. He is one of the best in the class at sinking his base under his opponents.
Now, he is not perfect be any means. The power is really not there. He is not a true people mover. And in pass pro, there are too many times where his feet will stall out if he doesn’t land his punch.
The traits are still there to be an excellent scheme fit. So, if he is still there in this range of the draft, the Bears should get Strange.
At 6′ 5″ 310 lbs with 35 inch arms, Braxton Jones has the optimal frame for an NFL offensive tackle. Unfortunately, his projection isn’t as clean as his size will lead scouts to believe.
Obviously the competition level isn’t great at Southern Utah, and he didn’t really alleviate those concerns with an up and down week at the Senior Bowl. His tape at Southern Utah is more of the same.
Southern Utah LT Braxton Jones is an intriguing prospect. Listed at 6'7" 310 with prototypical length, he uses his hands really well, can generate impressive control on blocks, & consistently looks to finish. pic.twitter.com/FQ3MfRgVIe
— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) September 6, 2021
Don’t get me wrong, there is a lot to hang the hat on with Jones. He moves really well at that size, is uber flexible and is pretty good with his hands. It was opposing power that gave him trouble. He needs to get stronger in both pass pro and in the run game. And, he has the frame to pack on more muscle.
With selecting Jones, I am betting on the traits. He has a lot things that coaches can’t teach. If developed properly, he could be a high level starter. I wouldn’t expect any early contributions from him but look for years 3 or 4 for him to really hit his stride.