The Chicago Bears have plenty of improvements to make to the roster this offseason, but none more important than the offensive line.
Between free agency and the 2025 NFL draft, general manager Ryan Poles has plenty of resources to shore up the team’s biggest weakness. There are three (possibly four) starting jobs to fill, and there are no shortage of top candidates to protect quarterback Caleb Williams.
In a new mock draft from ESPN’s Field Yates, the Bears address a huge need along the offensive line with Texas offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. at 10th overall.
As the Bears work to get the best version of Caleb Williams under new playcaller Ben Johnson, they’ll need to invest significantly in the offensive line. Williams took more sacks than any other quarterback in the NFL this past season (68).
Banks has very good footwork and balance for a 320-pound player, and I believe his extensive experience (42 starts) will make for a smoother transition to the NFL. He gave up only four pressures on 510 pass-blocking snaps in 2024, one of the lowest pressure percentages allowed by an FBS lineman. A lack of length has some convinced he’d be a better guard than tackle in the NFL, but I see the skill of a starter at left tackle.
The Bears have holes at center and both guard positions, and they could look to upgrade at left tackle. While former fifth-round pick Braxton Jones has started at left tackle for the past three seasons, he’s always been more of a bridge option than long-term solution.
Banks would be a solid bookend alongside right tackle Darnell Wright and go a long way in shoring up the offensive line for Williams.
