From 1998-2010, the Chicago Bears had one of the most decorated centers in the history of the NFL in Olin Kreutz, but replacing his presence has been tough, unsurprisingly. There are various positions where the Chicago Bears might look to upgrade via the draft, but center might be chief among them.
In his most recent NFL Mock Draft for SB Nation, Kyle Van Bibber projects the Bears to select Wisconsin center Peter Konz. Though center might not seem like a position worthy enough of a first round pick, a few recent selections— notably Cleveland Browns C Alex Mack and the Pouncey twins with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Miami Dolphins— seem to indicate that it could be a safe, worthwhile endeavor.
Here's Van Bibber's rationale:
19. Chicago Bears, Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin
The Bears recovered their playoffs aspirations just in time to lose Jay Cutler for the season thanks in part to an offensive line that allowed way too much pressure. Konz is the second best interior lineman in the draft, after DeCastro. He could even play guard if need be.
For more NFL news and notes, head over to SB Nation Pro Football, and stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago for more Bears updates and analysis. For more in-depth analysis of the Bears, visit Windy City Gridiron.
From 1998-2010, the Chicago Bears had one of the most decorated centers in the history of the NFL in Olin Kreutz, but replacing his presence has been tough, unsurprisingly. There are various positions where the Chicago Bears might look to upgrade via the draft, but center might be chief among them.
In his most recent NFL Mock Draft for SB Nation, Kyle Van Bibber projects the Bears to select Wisconsin center Peter Konz. Though center might not seem like a position worthy enough of a first round pick, a few recent selections— notably Cleveland Browns C Alex Mack and the Pouncey twins with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Miami Dolphins— seem to indicate that it could be a safe, worthwhile endeavor.
Here's Van Bibber's rationale:
For more NFL news and notes, head over to SB Nation Pro Football, and stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago for more Bears updates and analysis. For more in-depth analysis of the Bears, visit Windy City Gridiron.