Are we sold on Braxton Jones?

[Hawkeye OG]

Curious where the board is at on Braxton Jones as a long term solution after 10 games? I've seen a mixed bag of support. As far as a rookie mid round draft pick he's been serviceable, but I am not sold the Bears should be penciling him in as the starter moving forward. Should Poles be in a position to sign a LT in free agency or draft one high (first round), I think he should highly consider it.

Should one not be available in FA or high in the draft, I'm not opposed to him continuing to start in '23 assuming Poles fixes the other holes on the OL. With Braxton, I just envision this scenario where it's like Charles Leno all over. Just average enough to never actually invest in the position but will be exposed against experienced pass rushers. I want to see Poles finally invest in a solid OL, which the Bears have never really done and not just settle for average.

 

[ZenBear34]

Curious where the board is at on Braxton Jones as a long term solution after 10 games? I've seen a mixed bag of support. As far as a rookie mid round draft pick he's been serviceable, but I am not sold the Bears should be penciling him in as the starter moving forward. Should Poles be in a position to sign a LT in free agency or draft one high (first round), I think he should highly consider it.

Should one not be available in FA or high in the draft, I'm not opposed to him continuing to start in '23 assuming Poles fixes the other holes on the OL. With Braxton, I just envision this scenario where it's like Charles Leno all over. Just average enough to never actually invest in the position but will be exposed against experienced pass rushers. I want to see Poles finally invest in a solid OL, which the Bears have never really done and not just settle for average.

I am. I see all the tools needed to be a quality left tackle and a guy who is already way ahead where he should be. If he was drafted in the 1st or 2nd round no one would be questioning wether he was the long term answer based on how he has played.

Now if the Orlando Brown is available and the Bears want to throw $100 million at him or whatever it will cost that's fine. But I haven't seen anything from Jones that isn't fixable with a full off-season in an NFL weight training program and improved technique.

And Charles Leno was a very good LT, and remains a very good LT. I don't think most fans have any idea how to evaluate offensive lineman.

 

[greg23]

I'm fine with him for next season as i think he can continue to grow but would like to see a fa RT signed (like Conklin)

typically there aren't many high end young lt available at lt

 

[ILoveDick]

He's a back up.

 

[BaBaBlacksheep]

Sold is too strong a word at this point.

But I’m fine with giving him another season to develop and spending resources on our other needs including:

WR
Center
Right Tackle
DE
DT
LB
CB
Water boy

 

[mbison]

I want the best left tackle on the market next season

 

[greg23]

I want the best left tackle on the market next season

Have you ever seen the market for LT?

They're usually mediocre/old/expensive

Jones will he given another year while they shore up plenty of other holes

 

[Myk]

Where he is now should be what we aspire to have as a backup. He's a rookie and should get better so could end up who you want as a starter. I wouldn't refuse to upgrade in the draft or FA but I also wouldn't make that call until the season is over. I wouldn't bank on a promise of an off season to avoid upgrading, we will likely need backups at some point and if we have an extra good RT we gave a 5th for that would actually be a trade we might not lose on.

I am. I see all the tools needed to be a quality left tackle and a guy who is already way ahead where he should be. If he was drafted in the 1st or 2nd round no one would be questioning wether he was the long term answer based on how he has played.

Now if the Orlando Brown is available and the Bears want to throw $100 million at him or whatever it will cost that's fine. But I haven't seen anything from Jones that isn't fixable with a full off-season in an NFL weight training program and improved technique.

And Charles Leno was a very good LT, and remains a very good LT. I don't think most fans have any idea how to evaluate offensive lineman.

Of course if he was taken in the 1st or 2nd nobody would be questioning because he was already proven good enough in college to be taken high. You seriously can't figure out how that works? Draft position does matter.
Likewise if he was taken 1st or 2nd and was playing like he is people would be calling him a bust and others would be saying he's a rookie and would get used to the NFL.

I'm very curious how if you can rank Leno getting pushed back (still backpeddling in DC) into the QB here as "was very good" why you aren't ranking Jones as already a GOAT since he can actually hold a defender at times and even push them.
I think most Bears fans are used to be sold on the idea that anyone can play oline and expect that anyone level of play to qualify as good.

 

[Bust]

Braxton Jones > Evan Neal

 

[Bust]

I want the best left tackle on the market next season

wrong answer. do not pass go

 

[Myk]

Have you ever seen the market for LT?

They're usually mediocre/old/expensive

Jones will he given another year while they shore up plenty of other holes

I don't know L or R but there's 2 OTs projecting high but not so high they'll be out of our likely range. Not old or too expensive.
After 5 years they may be too expensive but considering Long's price probably not, it could be a long term affordable use of a high pick.

The FA market is much deeper for defense than offense next year. Of course all of this isn't worth putting too much effort into in week 10. It's a long way to the draft and free agency. Although in theory I agree about FA oline, if they're good they get paid, if they're available they're likely old or not that good.

 

[HearshotKDS]

He's one of the better zone blocking LTs in the league, he has very good lateral movement for the position. He gets dominated by competent bull rushes, even when he doesnt lose his block he gives up a bunch of "back pressures" where he gets walked into the pocket/QB although he does often sustain his block while getting pushed back. You can teach/develop strength and technique, things like footspeed/being able to stay in front of NFL DEs usually cant be picked up.

He does need to improve significantly in pass protection but its in areas where you expect tackles to grow. Theres the potential for him to develop into a very valuable player, and one who synergizes with Fields skill set, Bears would be foolish to give up on his development this early into it.

 

[Spitta Andretti]

He's one of the better zone blocking LTs in the league, he has very good lateral movement for the position. He gets dominated by competent bull rushes, even when he doesnt lose his block he gives up a bunch of "back pressures" where he gets walked into the pocket/QB although he does often sustain his block while getting pushed back. You can teach/develop strength and technique, things like footspeed/being able to stay in front of NFL DEs usually cant be picked up.

He does need to improve significantly in pass protection but its in areas where you expect tackles to grow. Theres the potential for him to develop into a very valuable player, and one who synergizes with Fields skill set, Bears would be foolish to give up on his development this early into it.

a sensible post finally

 

[rawdawg]

He's one of the better zone blocking LTs in the league, he has very good lateral movement for the position. He gets dominated by competent bull rushes, even when he doesnt lose his block he gives up a bunch of "back pressures" where he gets walked into the pocket/QB although he does often sustain his block while getting pushed back. You can teach/develop strength and technique, things like footspeed/being able to stay in front of NFL DEs usually cant be picked up.

He does need to improve significantly in pass protection but its in areas where you expect tackles to grow. Theres the potential for him to develop into a very valuable player, and one who synergizes with Fields skill set, Bears would be foolish to give up on his development this early into it.

Good post. A lot better than "he's bad, bench him" or "go spend 50Mil on a elite LT" (which doesn't exist on the FA market).

 

[SugarWalls]

The bears have completely changed their offense since NE. I feel like people forget how this offense and O line looked before then ... The OL got DESTROYED by washington, and they didn't look good before then.

Sure Fields has looked much better for a number of reasons, but it isn't just the designed runs. They are doing more pure progression and making it easier for him to go through his reads. Primarily though, moving the pocket and the threat of the run has allowed the OL to play better. We saw the offense sputter and the OL look like dog shit against the Lions when it is in obvious passing downs. Braxton Jones has looked putrid against bull rush, and he gets beat 1x1 by most edge rushers in the league. His run blocking, like the rest of the line, has been good. He is not the weakest player on the line.

Projecting him forward though is going to take a crystal ball. If he can manage to put on huge amounts of strength he can be a top 15 LT in the league. Is he going to be able to do that? No one knows, pure speculation.

Just look at Borom. He had some promise coming into this year and he looks like a rookie still. Do the Bears roll the dice on Braxton Jones, or do they draft the top LT in the draft (assuming the top DL aren't available).

 

[Enasic]

I am. I see all the tools needed to be a quality left tackle and a guy who is already way ahead where he should be. If he was drafted in the 1st or 2nd round no one would be questioning wether he was the long term answer based on how he has played.

Now if the Orlando Brown is available and the Bears want to throw $100 million at him or whatever it will cost that's fine. But I haven't seen anything from Jones that isn't fixable with a full off-season in an NFL weight training program and improved technique.

And Charles Leno was a very good LT, and remains a very good LT. I don't think most fans have any idea how to evaluate offensive lineman.

I know I sure don’t

 

[gallagher]

Jones should go into next season presuming his paycheck is safe but his starting gig is not secured, and that should be the case until we see him play at a level that deserves a second contract.

 

[Bearly]

I'm not sold but I roll those dice. He's not a franchise LT until he is and he's not... yet. Can't know how well he can bulk up or how he deals with it when he does but there's no question that he's got LT chops. His technique/sets and awareness belie his experience.

 

[Les Grossman]

He's playing well enough that LT isn't a top priority given all of the other holes in the roster.

 

[Spitta Andretti]

He's playing well enough that LT isn't a top priority given all of the other holes in the roster.

listening to JT O'Sullivan speak on Hoge on Jahns, he was way more critical of the WRs. they arent winning and theres no seperation