Windy City Gridiron
Everyone knows the Chicago Bears need help in the pass-rush department next season, as no one has truly emerged as a threat opposite Montez Sweat.
But Chicago has yet another pressing need in the trenches if they want to take off offensively: left tackle. Braxton Jones almost assuredly won’t be here next year, and undrafted tackle Theo Benedet, though he’s performed admirably, isn’t a starter.
Though the Bears could move Darnell Wright to the left side and try mountainous rookie Ozzy Trapilo as a right tackle next year, perhaps it would make sense to lock down the left tackle spot with an early pick in 2026. Given Ben Johnson’s commitment to investing in the offense, you can’t rule it out.
Which brings us to Bleacher Reporter’s latest player of focus for Chicago in next year’s draft, which could fit the need.
“One player to keep tabs on during the upcoming College Football Conference Championships and Playoffs is Indiana’s Carter Smith.
‘Smith is an alert, strong blocker with a stifling punch and excellent competitive toughness to steer and finish blocks,’ offensive line scout Brandon Thorn said in the Hoosier’s scouting report. ‘Average lateral quickness and arm length create soft edges in pass protection, but his strength and effort help him minimize clean losses. A sound skill set led to his ascension up the draft board and projected NFL starter.’”
Smith has been a key piece in Indiana’s ascension into college football playoff mainstays—a space no one would’ve seen them occupying a few years ago. Put him on an offensive line that features right and an experienced interior (at least for another year or so), and the Bears could truly turn into something like the Johnson-led Lions offensive line.
Of course, one has to see how Smith projects by the time the draft comes around and how that matches up with the Bears’ draft position. After all, if the Bears do make the playoffs, they’ll be picking in the back-half of the teens at best and maybe into the 20s. So getting a top prospect at almost any premium position might be out of the question.
But if there’s one premium position outside of edge that would make sense to target early, left tackle might well be it. If people keep sleeping on Smith and he falls into their Bears’ lap, it might be a no-brainer.
