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Bears 7-Round Mock Draft: Building the Trenches

By Charlie Smith

Dec 21, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns offensive lineman Kelvin Banks Jr. (78) against the Clemson Tigers during the CFP National playoff first round at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Dec 21, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns offensive lineman Kelvin Banks Jr. (78) against the Clemson Tigers during the CFP National playoff first round at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images / Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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The Bears are in a pretty good spot heading into the offseason this year. They have the sixth-most cap space available in the NFL, a franchise quarterback who showed promise in his rookie season despite countless issues on his coaching staff, and eight total draft picks coming up - four of which are in the top 75.

They also hired the best coaching candidate available in Ben Johnson. The Lions boast one of the NFL's best rosters, and most of it was built through the draft. Ben Johnson surely had a hand in some of that roster building, so the hope is that he can begin to build something similar in Chicago.

Mock drafts are fun for the fans to learn some new names and who their team can potentially add when the real deal kicks off in late April. However, trying to nail what the actual picks will be is about the same as trying to pick the lottery numbers.

We still have the NFL combine, pro days, and free agency all to come before the draft, so a team's big needs right now may not be the case come April. With that being said, let's jump into an early mock draft as things stand today.

. . Kelvin Banks Jr. . Round 1, Pick 10. 1. OT. 467. Kelvin Banks Jr. . Kelvin Banks Jr. . player

Caleb Williams was sacked the third-most in NFL history, so an offensive lineman is definitely looking like their first first pick in the draft unless they sign all of them in free agency.

It is no secret that the Bears will be looking to address their offensive line heavily this offseason. They may need as many as three new starters on the interior, pending the decision with Teven Jenkins. Regardless of Jenkins being brought back, they will need another guard on the other side. The future of Braxton Jones is also worth noting, but an average left tackle still on a rookie deal is someone worth keeping around for another year.

Banks started for three years at Texas and went up against primer talent and performed well. His run blocking is definitely ahead of his pass blocking, but that is often the case with young tackles coming into the league. Most teams will project him as a guard with the potential to kick out eventually, so the Bears could be a prime destination for him.

Ben Johnson will want to lean on the running game to open up play-action opportunities and easy throws for Williams, and Banks can come in and help provide just that on day one.

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