Chicago Bears: Immediate Reaction to Final Two Picks

The Chicago Bears had consecutive picks to finish off their portion of the 2020 NFL Draft and they decided to bolster the offensive line.

The Chicago Bears fans clamored for help on the offensive line. General manager Ryan Pace went out and signed Germain Ifedi and Jason Spriggs, and re-signed Rashaad Coward. Many felt the Bears needed to do more and Pace decided to do so late in the draft by adding two offensive linemen with the team’s final two picks.

With the 226th pick, the Bears selected Colorado offensive lineman Arlington Hambright. Hambright played tackle for the University of Colorado but at 6-foot-5 and at 300 pounds, he likely moves over to the interior. He is athletic and explodes off the snap. That helps him when he pulls. He’s able to get to the second level quickly.

On down blocks, Hambright does a good job of accelerating and going through the block. He isn’t overly strong but has enough strength to move his man during run blocking. He has quick hands to shoot quickly or to reset if he loses the initial attack. Additionally, he has quick feet. He rarely gets knocked off-balance.

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On backside blocks, he sometimes takes bad angles. He sometimes tends to lungs on his blocks. Also, as a guard, he might have trouble with speed rushers.

Minutes later, with the 227th pick, the Bears selected Lachavious Simmons out of Tennessee State. He is the Swiss Army Knife of offensive linemen, having played every position along the line. If he could do that at the next level he’d give the Bears good depth. He won’t be a starter but could stay in the league for some time if he could come in and help give the starters some rest.

Simmons has a great attitude. He acknowledges that he’s failed and that he’ll fail again. He uses those failures to improve. This is what he said in a recent interview:

I have failed plenty of times as a younger player but it not how you get knock down it’s how you get back up and learn from your mistakes and grow as a player with open ears and the right mindset.

Simmons has a high motor and plays with a chip on his shoulder. He has a nasty streak in him. That is something the Bears line could use.

Grade: D. Don’t expect much from these players. They’ll likely provide more help as practice squad players than for anything on the field during games. Additionally, they didn’t get help at safety or defensive tackle, a major failure.