Will Bears Get Their Tackle?

Draft rumors are flying and center around potential Bears draft interest Paris Johnson Jr.

USA Today

The Bears could be in trouble if they want Ohio State tackle Paris Johnson Jr.

At least that's the buzz coming from NFL Network's top "insider," Ian Rapoport.

On NFL Network, Rapoport was all too willing to pass along a rumor saying Johnson is a player the Arizona Cardinals would consider at No. 3 if they don't trade out of the slot.

"The Paris Johnson thought is certainly one that has been gaining speed around the league," Rapoport said.

From NFL Now: There is a chance a top QB slides out of the Top 10. Who will be there to grab him? pic.twitter.com/R4cQAuAaQz

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 26, 2023

The reasoning is quarterback Kyler Murray wants better pass protection. Murray was sacked 48 times as a rookie in 2019 but last year was sacked only 25 times, 31 times in 2021 and 27 in 2020. By contrast, Justin Fields has been sacked 91 times in his two seasons, 55 last year.

Johnson is the player most often mock-drafted to the Bears on NFLmockdraftdatabase.com, on about 35% of the 1,410 mocks they had logged by Wednesday night.

In FanNation's mock, Johnson was the pick for the Bears. In the seven-round Pro Football Focus mock draft, Johnson didn't go until 15th overall to the Jets.

If the Bears are thinking Johnson as a way to bolster pass blocking for Fields and he does wind up with Arizona, it could open up all sorts of possibilities.

It might mean a top defensive lineman like Will Anderson Jr., Tyree Wilson or Jalen Carter could fall to the Bears.

Even if it didn't, the Bears could acquire a top tackle at that point in the draft or trade back if they have offers. Northwestern's Peter Skoronski is generally regarded as the best blocker in this draft, although his shorter arms (32-1/4 inches) are said to be a reason why teams would want to move him to guard.

It doesn't mean teams have to move him to guard, though, and the Bears might find he's their best blocker as a rookie considering they had such a problem keeping Fields free from the pass rush last year.

Tackles could be a hotter commodity than many mock drafts have suggested.  Another report suggests a run on tackles in Round 1.

Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer earlier this week reported it's possible the two top tackles will be centerpieces near the end of the top 10, and the Bears, of course, are at No. 9.

"A potential theme to watch for Thursday night: teams jockeying for offensive linemen between picks Nos. 10 and 19," Breer wrote. "I'd bet, at this point, that Ohio State's Paris Johnson Jr. and Northwestern’s Peter Skoronski will be gone before then. And from there, you have the Eagles, Titans, Packers, Patriots, Jets, Commanders, Steelers and Buccaneers in a nine-pick stretch all potentially looking for linemen.

"The hard truth is there won't be enough (tackles) to go around. Tennessee's Darnell Wright and Georgia's Broderick Jones, to me, would be near locks to go in that range."

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