Brian Galliford has posted his latest 2011 NFL Mock Draft at SBNation.com, and he once again has the Chicago Bears picking an offensive lineman to address their issues at that position. Galliford uses the Bears’ first-round pick, the 29th one overall, on Baylor’s Danny Watkins.
Watkins, who Galliford says “will play guard in the NFL,” isn’t an offensive tackle, which is what Chicago needs most, will turn 27 as a rookie. However, as Galliford wriet, “his age might be less of a factor for a Chicago team that’s very close to championship-caliber.”
The Bears averaged just 3.9 yards per carry last season, tied with the Denver Broncos for 23rd in the league. Moreover, opposing defenses sacked Chicago quarterbacks a league-leading 56 times, well above the NFL average of 35.3. It’s clear why Galliford believes the Bears need an upgrade on the offensive line.
Watkins would fit the bill for Chicago; NFL Draft Scout says he led Baylor “with 134 knockdowns and an average coaches’ grade of 90 percent.”