Chicago Bears Draft: The case for Broderick Jones in the first round

Should Chicago Bears draft Broderick Jones over Northwestern’s Peter Skoronski or Ohio State’s Paris Johnson Jr?

Skoronski is considered the top offensive lineman prospect, but some scouts think Johnson Jr. is better than Skoronski. Pro Football Focus has Skoronski and Johnson Jr. ranked ahead of Jones.

Skoronski might have the best film of all three. Johnson Jr. might be the better pick, but Jones might have the best value or the highest ceiling.

Skoronski’s technique is already lightyears ahead of Jones’. Jones’ size and length are more desirable than Skoronski’s.

Skoronski has the shortest arms of all three and that is why a lot of scouts think Skoronski will be a better guard in the NFL. There are some NFL scouts and executives who believe Skoronski will be a Pro Bowler at guard, but he will just be an average player at tackle.

Plus, Jones has played in a greater amount of bigger games–and performed well–than Skoronski. Johnson Jr. has played in just as many games on the big stages as Jones, but Jones has two championship rings.

Johnson Jr. has proved he can play both guard and tackle. He checks the positional value that Ryan Poles prefers. Johnson Jr. has only given up one more career sack than Jones.

Jones has more career starts at left tackle than Johnson Jr, but Paris has more overall starts as an offensive lineman (he started at guard too while at Ohio State) during his college career. Skoronski has 32 career starts protecting a quarterback’s blindside.

The level of competition could be the deciding factor. All three played in great conferences, but the SEC edges the Big Ten by just a bit (I know this will upset the Big Ten diehards). Jones has way more actual game experience facing the closest competition college football has to the NFL and that was just in practice.

The decision comes down to how Ryan Poles and his staff have Jones graded compared to Skoronski and Johnson Jr. and where he falls on the Bears’ draft board.