The Chicago Bears landed a ton of talent in last year’s NFL draft and will be looking to do the same when they’re on the clock this weekend. While the No. 25 overall pick is at the forefront of the discussion, the Bears will also be looking to mine talent from the later rounds, as they did when adding Kyle Monangai with their final pick a year ago.
Looking at this year’s class, it’s hard to pick out who could be this year’s version of Monangai, but the Bears have plenty of needs. One of them is on the interior of the defensive line, and it could have them taking a flier on Southeastern Louisiana defensive tackle Kaleb Proctor in the fifth round or later.
Proctor is a little small for NFL standards, standing 6'2" and weighing 291 pounds during the scouting combine. But he also has strong physical traits, including a 113-inch broad jump and a 4.80 time in the 40-yard dash. Proctor is aided by a monster final season with SE Louisiana, logging 43 total tackles and 9.0 sacks. While it was against Football Championship Subdivision competition, it could be enough to solve Chicago’s issues in the trenches.
Kaleb Proctor Could Be Bears Solution to DT Problems in NFL Draft
The Bears hatched a plan to improve their trench play last season. But while Ryan Poles’s plan on the offensive line worked brilliantly, the defensive line didn’t have the same results.
Chicago signed Grady Jarrett to a three-year, $43.5 million contract in free agency last offseason and added Shemar Turner in the second round of last year’s draft. Jarrett was disappointing with 23 quarterback pressures, 1.5 sacks, and a career-low 42.0 grade against the run. Turner never got going, not making his debut until Week 3 and failing to record a quarterback pressure in 74 total snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.
Poles spoke highly about Turner this offseason but it didn’t stop the Bears from adding Neville Gallimore, Kentavius Street, and James Lynch in free agency. Jarrett also remains a concern as he turns 33 next week and could be cut next spring if he has another rough season. Gervon Dexter Sr. is entering the final year of his contract after dodging trade rumors that sprang up at the combine, and things could get especially hairy if Turner doesn’t take a second-year leap coming off injury.
Proctor is far from a can’t-miss prospect, but he has the raw tools to become a difference-maker or at least a key rotational piece for a Bears pass rush that logged just 35 sacks last season (tied for 22nd in the NFL). At age 22, Proctor also has the upside to grow into his role and would be a solid target for a Bears team looking to add more talent in this year’s draft.
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