3 Combine Standouts that the Bears Must Target in the NFL Draft
3. Sedrick Van Pran, IOL, Georgia
One of the major needs in the Bears' offense is at the center position.
The Bears did trade for Buffalo Bills center Ryan Bates, and while he may be the planned starter to open the season, the Bears still need to find a long-term solution at the center position.
Many talk about Jackson Powers-Johnson, the center out of Oregon, but unless the Bears trade down in the first round, don't expect him to be available when Chicago is on the clock. However, there are other options.
Sedrick Van Pran is a realistic option that is available when the Bears pick in the third round. The Bears desperately need a long-term solution, and he has the potential to be the answer. Here, he talks about how he can be a great leader on the line.
Sedrick Van Pran said he takes being the QB of the OL perosnnally. When asked what Georgia HC Kirby Smart would say about his leadership, Van Pran said Smarr called him a black and white leader because he sees things very clearly. Right is right and wrong is wrong. There's no in… pic.twitter.com/MX649sEZh1
— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) March 2, 2024
Not since Olin Kruetz have the Bears found a permanent fixture at the center position. Lucas Patrick, Dan Feeney, Sam Mustipher, Hroniss Grasu, and Cody Whitehair are all examples of the lack of longevity at the position.
Van Pran brings the stability and leadership necessary to be successful at the position.
It is time for the Bears to find a permanent solution at the position, and the draft is a great way to approach and fix the problem that has plagued the Bears for many years. Van Pran has experience from a winning program at Georgia. He has excelled at being a leader and can adapt at an elite level. It can be valuable and necessary for a growing and adapting league. The Bears have many decisions to make. They have both the resources and options necessary to build a contender.
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