On Day 3 of the 2022 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears went to work right away. General manager Ryan Poles worked the phones nonstop and helped the Bears accumulate several additional draft picks, allowing Chicago to end up with a total of 11.
After selecting Kyler Gordon, Jaquan Brisker and Velus Jones Jr. on Day 2, the Bears finally made their next selection at pick no. 168 which came in the fifth round.
With that pick, the Bears chose Southern Utah offensive tackle Braxton Jones.
Not many Bears fans had heard of Jones prior to being drafted, but he was indeed a Combine participant and projected to go in the fifth round by experts around the industry. What fans might now know, however, is just how good Jones was in 2021.
The Chicago Bears stole one of the nation’s best offensive tackles, in Braxton Jones, late in the 2022 NFL Draft.
The Bears had to find offensive line help on Day 3, and Jones was just the first of four selected. Thankfully, the Bears will now have plenty of competition up front in effort to protect Justin Fields.
Jones, though, very well could end up starting. His 2021 campaign was one for the books.
The Chicago Bears pick Southern Utah Tackle Braxton Jones at No. 168 overall.
Jones may have played in the Big Sky Conference, but he absolutely dominated for most of his time there. Pro Football Focus hands out unbiased, specifically-focused grades and for Jones to have earned the no. 2 overall offensive tackle grade in 2021 speaks volumes about his potential as a pro.
Head coach Matt Eberflus, along with Poles, expressed a desire to add speed and athleticism at all positions this offseason. In Jones, that’s just what they have found.
Jones stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 310 pounds, but ran his 40 in 4.97 seconds — yes, a sub-five second forty for a big boy. That’s impressive. But, he’s not just fast. He’s quick, too.
Jones can get out in space in a hurry and move up to the next level when needed. Off the line of scrimmage, Jones’ explosiveness shows up immediately on tape. That’s the number one thing you notice when watching him initially. Jones gets off the line with a purpose.
In pass protection, his grip strength shows up right away as well. His quick punch and grab allows him to be the first man engaged when going against pass rushers, and because he does a great job at staying squared up, Jones is usually the winning man.
Between his speed, quick feet and excellent lateral movement, Jones was one of the very best pass blockers in college football last year — thus his 93.9 overall grade from PFF.
For the Bears to have snagged a highly-regarded tackle like this in the fifth round is nothing short of impressive. Again, Jones played in a less competitive conference which is why he wasn’t selected higher. But, all of the raw tools are there for him to become a successful, starting offensive tackle for the Bears.
