Windy City Gridiron
Most of the NFL mock drafts floating around have the Chicago Bears addressing the trenches, which is what fans are hoping for come April 24. Chicago needs help on both lines, but their direction in free agency could affect how they stack the top of their board. Assuming they land a couple of new starters on the interior of the offensive line, they could be in a prime position to snag the top defensive lineman on their board with the tenth overall selection.
In the latest mock from form Pro Football Network’s Ben Rolfe, they have Chicago heavily addressing offense on the first two days, but at ten, they go with a 6’5”, 265-pound Bulldog.
10) Chicago Bears: Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
The Chicago Bears’ main needs this offseason are in the trenches on both sides of the ball. They need a lot of help along the offensive line, but they also need a partner in crime for Montez Sweat, who can make the most of one-on-one opportunities or can force double teams to give Sweat more freedom.
Mykel Williams fits that description perfectly from the 10th spot. He combines elite size, agility, and power. His athleticism and dynamic play style set him apart, but refining his pass-rush technique and converting pressures into production will be key to unlocking his full potential at the next level.
Sweat had a down year in 2024 with just 5.5 sacks, but that was still the most sacks on the team. Overall, Chicago’s 40 sacks were 16th in the league, so they need more consistent pressure. Williams is an athletic player with good strength at the point of attack, and he fits the profile that new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen likes at the position.
39) Chicago Bears (From CAR): Grey Zabel, OT, North Dakota State
As we discussed earlier, the Bears need offensive line help, and they need it in multiple positions. Grey Zabel could be the ideal selection here, as he can play any of the positions across the line. After an impressive Senior Bowl performance, he is rising up draft boards, and that flexibility will only help teams see him as a valuable early Day 2 pick.
Zabel combines solid size and strength with a high football IQ, allowing him to adapt to different blocking schemes and defensive looks. He is effective in both run and pass blocking, using strong hand placement and leverage to control defenders. The level of competition he has played against in college will raise concerns, but we have seen others succeed in stepping up, especially on the interior of the line.
Zabel (6’5, 316) was a big winner at the Senior Bowl, so I could see him sneaking into the first round due to his versatility. If he’s there at 39, this would be a no-brainer pick, especially if the Bears go defense in the first round.
41) Chicago Bears: Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina ...
