Defining short- and long-term expectations for the Bears' draft picks, Part 2 (2024)

It was only the first day of rookie minicamp, but Bears coach Matt Eberflus liked what he saw from his offensive linemen.

“The offensive line, to me, stood out in terms of their operation,” Eberflus said. “(Offensive line coach Chris Morgan) does a great job coaching those guys and they look good.

“There’s a lot of good prospects in there and we’re excited about where those guys are in terms of how they look, how they move.”

Here’s where the Bears’ draft picks played:

Left tackle: Braxton Jones
Left guard: Ja’Tyre Carter
Center: Doug Kramer
Right guard: Zach Thomas
Right tackle: Jean Delance (undrafted free-agent signing from Florida)

It was an early glimpse in terms of what to expect for training camp. There are opportunities for the Bears’ Day 3 selections, especially for the offensive linemen.

And they seem to sense it, too.

“Obviously, as a rookie, you can’t come in like you’ve already got the job done,” Jones said. “You’ve got a lot of stuff to learn. There’s the playbook and stuff like that, but in the course of how you’re playing, you’re trying to take someone’s job, obviously. Everyone’s out there to take someone’s job.”

Earlier this week, we looked at the short- and long-term expectations for the Bears’ Day 2 selections. Today, we do the same for their Day 3 picks:

The offensive linemen

Braxton Jones, OT, Southern Utah, Round 5, 174th overall
Zach Thomas, G, San Diego State, Round 6, 186th overall
Doug Kramer, C, Illinois, Round 6, 207th overall
Ja’Tyre Carter, G, Southern University, Round 7, 226th overall

Where they fit in 2022: It’s unfair to expect one of them to emerge as the Bears’ version of Trey Smith, the 226th pick last year by the Chiefs who started every game at right guard. Smith fell because of his history of blood clots. The same concerns don’t apply to the Bears’ picks.

But if you’re general manager Ryan Poles, you need someone to push Larry Borom and Teven Jenkins at left and right tackle, respectively.

That could be Jones.

There also is a starting job to be had at right guard. Right now, former center Sam Mustipher is holding that spot. Thomas and Carter are transitioning from tackle to the inside. Thomas’ place at right guard could make him the early favorite to push Mustipher.

“I personally think it’s been all right,” Thomas said. “Obviously, I had to tighten up my footwork, and certain aspects of my game. But I think I’m adjusting well and I’ll continue to do so.”

Where they fit in the long term: The odds say they all won’t pan out. It’s just how the draft works — and why Poles wanted more swings. But he likely would be happy if one becomes an average starter while others prove capable of filling in and starting when needed. The Bears did bet on certain athletic traits that should help all of them fit the Bears’ system.

Poles wanted to increase the competition up front, but the Bears do seem to like Borom and Jenkins, two draft picks from last year. If they didn’t, the team’s investment in the line likely would have looked different. The Bears want them to push back on the rookies pushing them.

“As far as their mindset, their approach every single day, I’m excited about them,” offensive coordinator Luke Getsy said of Borom and Jenkins. “They both have a really good chance this year to show what they’re made of. We’re trying to set a mentality up front, and I think both those guys are good leaders for that, for sure.”

The rest of the draft class

Dominique Robinson, DE, Miami (Ohio)
Round 5, 174th overall

Where he fits in 2022: The Bears have Robert Quinn, Al-Quadin Muhammad and Trevis Gipson in front of Robinson. Eberflus will want a rotation off the edges. Attrition always plays a role. Muhammad led Colts defensive ends with 801 snaps last season, followed by Kwity Paye (639) and Tyquan Lewis (311), according to Pro Football Reference. Kemoko Turay (224), Isaac Rochell (177), Dayo Odeyingbo (173) and Ben Banogu (68) all played, too.

In other words, Robinson will play this season. That should be his expectation and he’ll have to be ready for it.

Where he fits in the long term: Robinson’s athletic traits made him appealing. Dane Brugler, The Athletic’s draft analyst, had him as his 78th-best player. Lance Zierlein from NFL.com was bullish on Robinson, too. He earned a “Will Eventually Be Plus Starter” grade and was projected to go in the third or fourth round.

But Robinson also is a player who requires coaching. What he gets from the Bears will determine his path. He switched from receiver to defensive end during the 2020 season at Miami of Ohio. He didn’t start in 2021, but he still earned third-team All-MAC honors.

The potential is there. Teams saw it during Senior Bowl practices against better competition.

“I think it showed that he belonged with some of those top-tier tackles that were in Mobile,” Bears area scout Brendan Rehor said. “He held his own. He didn’t look out of place.”

Robinson fits the resilience mold that Poles wants, too. He had only one scholarship offer from Miami and was initially recruited as a quarterback before shifting to receiver. Robinson later took advantage of his extra year of eligibility because of the COVID-19 pandemic to work on his switch to defense.

“The thought when I was making the switch was I wanted to make plays,” he said. “I’ve been a playmaker all my life, and when I was not able to get the ball to make plays at wide receiver, I knew I needed to put myself in a position to make plays without having the ball in my hand. I knew that the defense was the best way to do that, and that’s what I did.”

Trestan Ebner, RB/KR, Baylor
Round 6, 203rd overall

Where he fits in 2022: Poles said at the combine that he liked his running backs room with David Montgomery and Khalil Herbert. But it wasn’t surprising that he added to it. He wasn’t lying when he said it was a deep class for backs, and Ebner provides values on special teams as a returner.

Ebner’s earliest path to the field might be through third-round pick Velus Jones Jr. It’s the Big 12 special teams player of the year vs. the SEC special teams player of the year.

“We’ll be able to push each other,” Ebner said. “I watched some of his tape, too, and he’s really good. So I think it’s fine. I’ve never been afraid of competition, so it’s good.”

Where he fits in the long term: The most pressing long-term question is whether Montgomery earns a second contract from the Bears. He’s in the final year of his rookie contract. Montgomery was drafted because he fit what former coach Matt Nagy wanted. But he’s already starting to win over Poles and Eberflus.

“Yeah, talk about motor and mean,” Eberflus said at the NFL owners’ meetings. “Yeah, he is that guy. Serious. A pro. Worker. And, yeah, he’s going to be exciting to work with, and he’s going to fit right in. He’s the kind of guy who just says, ‘Hey, watch me go, I’m not going to say a whole bunch of things, but just watch me do my job.’”

As for Ebner, he said he’s comfortable with the Bears’ outside zone scheme coming from Baylor. But he and Herbert are clearly behind Montgomery this season. Herbert, the Bears’ leading returner last season, appears in line for an increased role on offense if it becomes more run-heavy.

Elijah Hicks, S, California
Round 7, 254th overall

Where he fits in 2022: It starts with getting healthy. Hicks suffered a broken bone in his foot before the East-West Shrine Game. He didn’t participate in Cal’s pro day because of it.

In general, special teams should be stressed this late in the draft. The Bears need players to fill them out. And young players — especially those drafted — will have chances to do exactly that.

“Oh, I’m a goer,” Hicks said after being drafted. “All four phases. It doesn’t matter if I’m running down and make a tackle, ain’t nobody going to block me, I’m going to go down and make the play. Whether it’s a kick return, I got sweet feet, so I’m going to stay in front of everybody and block if I have to, so we can take it to the crib.

“If it’s (punt block return) hold up, I’m going to do that to the max. That’s just the type of player, whatever it is I’m at, I’m going to do it. That’s the type of guy I am for real.”

Where he fits in the long term: Safety DeAndre Houston-Carson, a sixth-round pick in 2016, is a great example of how core special teamers can be found late in the draft. Hicks has a higher ceiling. He was a first-team All-Pac-12 selection last year and a multiyear starter, including at cornerback before moving to safety. Hicks visited the Bears before the draft. But it’s still wait-and-see at this point. He might be better than typical seventh-rounders, but he’s still a seventh-rounder.

“My work ethic and what I’m trying to bring to a team is valuable,” Hicks said. “I’m so thankful that it’s with Chicago. I had that meeting with them, and when I saw that Illinois (on the phone), I was like ‘Oh, let’s go!’ I knew it had to be them.”

Trenton Gill, P, North Carolina State
Round 7, 255th overall

Where he fits in 2022: Instead of getting into a potential bidding war for Gill or another punter in undrafted free agency, Poles said he opted to use his final pick on the punter.

“We identified him as a player who could come in and compete for that punter job,” Poles said after the draft. “Instead of going through that whole process, we decided just to get it done.”

It’s a wide-open competition after Pat O’Donnell, the Bears’ punter since 2014, left for the Packers in free agency. Gill will compete against Ryan Winslow, who has appeared in six total games with Arizona, Carolina and Washington.

Where he fits in the long term: How quickly the punters connect with kicker Cairo Santos and long snapper Patrick Scales is important. Poles also knows what a long-term staple at punter looks like. Dustin Colquitt was the Chiefs’ punter from 2005 to 2019.

Special teams coordinator Richard Hightower has experience working with rookie punters. The 49ers drafted punter Mitch Wishnowsky in the fourth round in 2019. He’s still San Francisco’s punter. Hightower previously worked with punter Bradley Pinion in 2017 and 2018.

What do the Bears have in Gill?

“We like the fact that he’s got a big leg,” Hightower said. “He’ll have an opportunity to put that on display and compete and see what he can do and put his best foot forward. But he’s got a big leg. He’s got good hands. He can hold well, and he’s a really smart and sharp kid that loves football.”

(Photo of Zach Thomas: Robin Alam / Icon Sportswire / Associated Press)