Chicago Bears: 5 Offensive guards to target in 2018 NFL Draft

The Chicago Bears need their interior offensive line to protect the passing and running games. Here are some prospects in the 2018 NFL Draft who can help solidify that unit.

The Chicago Bears have a spotty record over the past half-decade when it comes to the offensive line. They’ve had some seasons when they did well and the passing and running games both did pretty well (they had the second-highest ranked offense in 2013). They’ve also had some difficult times (they’ve ranked near the bottom on a number of offensive categories).

In order to improve those rankings, they need help along the line. What I’m going to concentrate on here is on the interior line.

In 2016 the Bears had what many considered one of the best interior lines in the league. Josh Sitton, Cody Whitehair, and Kyle Long all did a good job. They limited the sacks (28 total given up by the line), and the running backs had some nice holes in the middle. Additionally, the Bears ranked 15th in total yards (though they ranked 28th in points scored).

In 2017, the injury bug hit the Bears (again). Sitton missed three games and Long six. Whitehair split time between center and guard.  As a result, the offense struggled.

Now the Bears hope that Long’s surgeries are over and he returns healthy to play like the dominant lineman he was a few years back. Also, the team has a decision to make on Sitton, who has an $8.5 million option for 2018.

Should the Bears decline the option, the team will need a replacement starter. They could go the route of free agency, but that’s a topic for another time. They could also go through the draft, and this is what we’ll discuss here.

Here are some of the top guards in the draft the Bears could target. These are players they go after in different rounds. These are the ones who can make an impact quickly.