Yesterday, we gave our pick for the one player we want the Chicago Bears to draft, so today, naturally, is the flip side of the topic.
We asked our team who we hoped the Bears would stay away from in the draft, and here’s what we had to say.
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Jacob Infante – I’m wary about Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanachor. He’s a two-year starter with the Sun Devils who never played high school football, so he has a much smaller sample size than most linemen in this class. That inexperience shows often on tape, as his strikes can be delivered too wide or too late, resulting in lunges or poor inside leverage. His pad level is a work in progress, and he’s also a natural right tackle who would have to move to the left side in Chicago. Iheanachor is a stellar athlete for his size, but I don’t think he’s ready to be a Day 1 starter in the NFL, and I can’t justify the Bears making that pick that early when a developmental tackle doesn’t benefit them in 2026.
Bryan Orenchuk – Keldric Faulk, DE, Auburn – I get the age and the prototype size being enticing, but we need pass rush help at Edge, and Faulk is lacking sorely in that category. Seems like a younger (and cheaper) Dayo Odeyingbo to me, which isn’t a bad thing, just not in the first round where Faulk is likely to be selected.
Donald Gooch – Kayden Proctor, Alabama, LT. Yet another massive Alabama tackle who looks like Tarzan but plays like Jane. His size and athleticism are off the charts, so why is his play so pedestrian? He has Alex Leatherwood written all over him.
Gary Baugher Jr. – Akheem Mesidor, the EDGE out of Miami gives me the biggest pause for concern, 25 years old entering the draft, and foot issues in the trenches are one of the biggest pauses for concern in my eyes.
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Josh Sunderbruch – Akheem Mesidor, ED (Miami). The age and the injury history worry me, and Chicago needs its top picks to have high floors to maintain playoff momentum.
Jeff Berckes – Ryan Poles has shown he actively avoids character issue guys as a basic philosophy, so I won’t waste my time on that element. I am curious if Poles would spend another premium pick on an older prospect like Akheem Mesidor. He may very well end up being a good player, but at 25, he’s reached his athletic peak and would be a lower-ceiling move with a first-round pick Tough sell for me.
Erik Duerrwaechter – Iowa, DE, Max Llewellyn He reminds me way too much of a slower Lukas Van Ness, who’s been a bust after the Packers picked him 13th overall in the 2023 draft He’s got good size that would fit what Dennis Allen prefers in his ends, and that’s pretty much it.
Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. – No particular player for me, but a specific position I want the Bears to avoid. Every now and again a mock draft wil pop up with Chicago taking a wide receiver in the first or second round, and I can’t get on board with that. This team has enough at receiver but not enough talent on defense.
Now it’s your turn. Who is the one guy you want the Bears to avoid?
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