Jalon Walker, Banks, and Warren are all available at pick 10...

[DefNextYear]

Braxton certainly is not a backup on many teams. He's an average tackle and will get paid a ton of money in FA if he starts and plays solid again this year.

Why moving on an taking a tackle at #10 isnt a bad idea, but that rookie likely wont outplay braxton in 2025 if he's healthy and back to his preinjury form.

I mean, this is easy to prove. I'll start with Thorn's top 15 LTs, which Braxton isn't a part of. He also includes the guys who missed the cutoff.

1. Trent Williams
2. Tunsil
3. Wirfs
4. Andrew Thomas
5. Tyron Smith (retired, ignore)
6. Armstead (retired, ignore)
7. Slater
8. Darrisaw
9. Dion Dawkins
10. Kolton Miller
11. Mailata
12. Jake Matthews
13. Decker
14. Raimann
15. Orlando Brown
16. Charles Cross
17. Cam Robinson
18. Paris Johnson Jr.

Now, lets also consider Garrett Bolles and Stanley as two other guys I think are easy ones to say are better. Then lets add in the young guys that probably most teams would also take over Braxton right now: Latham, Fuaga, Ekwonu, Fashanu, and Tyler Guyton. Alaric Jackson is another name that is probably debatable.

So, I've come up with 24 names there that I'd say at least 20 would start over Braxton. Since I said "most", I'd only really need 17.

Duke called him capable. Hardly a ringing endorsement.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1913233882599641492

EDIT: Missed Fashanu and Stanley, updated to 24.

 

[Rise]

I'm taking Banks Jr and not even thinking twice about it. I don't even think he will be there at 10 as he is the best LT in the draft. If we draft him our line should be set for a long time. Continue building the trenches.

 

[SugarWalls]

Of the 3 though,if the o-line is healthy and effective in '25, Banks has the least chance of seeing the field as a rookie.

Just so you are aware Braxton has missed the entire off season of training due to his injury and he is not going to be the starter during camp.

Kinda seems like a big 'if' to say they are healthy.

Banks is also the best bet to be able to slot in at guard if needed for injury this year.

 

[knoxville7]

i couldnt vote in this since the OP listed banks as a OT/OG

he is a tackle, plain and simple. he wont get moved inside

 

[msadows]

I'm taking Banks Jr and not even thinking twice about it. I don't even think he will be there at 10 as he is the best LT in the draft. If we draft him our line should be set for a long time. Continue building the trenches.

Wait, i thought we spent multiple months saying banks is a guard.

Now everyone thinks he's a left tackle?

weird

 

[Sculpt]

Of the 3 though,if the o-line is healthy and effective in '25, Banks has the least chance of seeing the field as a rookie.

Good point. Our OL starting lineup is set. If Bears draft Banks they'd be sitting Jones or Banks, which is a slight luxury.

I mean, if you're making a SB run, you'd want a Banks to step-in case of OL injury. And you want to keep adding top OL talent to take over in the future. Like some don't want to re-sign Jones at Tackle in 2026.

Still, I think if Bears graded Walker and Banks the same, I'd go with the Edge player because Bears need another good Edge player now.

Jones PFF:

 

[knoxville7]

Wait, i thought we spent multiple months saying banks is a guard.

Now everyone thinks he's a left tackle?

weird

whomst has been stating this for months? the guy has literally never played anything but OT

anyone who thinks he is a guard only is just being silly and reading headlines from writers that gotta put headlines out there that generate clicks

 

[jazzmcfunk]

OL OL OL

Kelvin is money in the "Banks"

 

[SugarWalls]

If walker, banks, Warren are all available I want Mike Green.

Or I guess banks

 

[Runruffshod75]

Banks and easily. I'm not one that's necessarily on the draft Ashton Jeanty bus. Yet if Warren is the alternative then I'm praying that Jeanty falls to 10.

I would rather have Gadsden or Arroyo on day 2 or 3 and go a different route in round 1. If Poles does take a pass catcher than I would rather have Egbuka over any other pass catcher in this draft class.

Egbuka is going to be a pro bowl SLOT WR who will make an immediate impact. Egbuka will fill the role that St. Brown played in Johnsons offense perfectly.

Egbuka runs his routes with a quickness and smooth precision that's down right surgical.

 

[doctorbear]

Banks would be such a legit pick. You have your two tackles going forward and then beef up the second set of the interior line in the next 2 years to take the place of the older guys who have short term deals. It's a perfect pick for that spot, he will likely be there, and bears won't be in a good position for a top LT (hopefully) in the next couple drafts.

This is assuming Jeanty won't be there which I think the bears would feel forced to pick. I don't think he'll be there. I would pass so hard on a TE.

 

[doctorbear]

Braxton certainly is not a backup on many teams. He's an average tackle and will get paid a ton of money in FA if he starts and plays solid again this year.

Why moving on a taking a tackle at #10 isnt a bad idea, but that rookie likely wont outplay braxton in 2025 if he's healthy and back to his preinjury form.

It's a good opportunity to improve talent, skill, and likely ultimately play at the position and able to defer on paying big money to an average starter there.

 

[ChiGuy23]

Who do you pick?

Harmon.

 

[knoxville7]

Banks and easily. I'm not one that's necessarily on the draft Ashton Jeanty bus. Yet if Warren is the alternative then I'm praying that Jeanty falls to 10.

I would rather have Gadsden or Arroyo on day 2 or 3 and go a different route in round 1. If Poles does take a pass catcher than I would rather have Egbuka over any other pass catcher in this draft class.

Egbuka is going to be a pro bowl SLOT WR who will make an immediate impact. Egbuka will fill the role that St. Brown played in Johnsons offense perfectly.

Egbuka runs his routes with a quickness and smooth precision that's down right surgical.

100% agree with you on Egbuka. He would be a great addition to the WR room if he’s somehow still there when the bears pick in the 2nd round

 

[Rise]

Wait, i thought we spent multiple months saying banks is a guard.

Now everyone thinks he's a left tackle?

weird

I don’t think I have posted here since Johnson hired an oline coach so it wasn’t me saying that.

 

[Raskolnikov]

If we don't take a LT this year in the 1st, I'm ok with it if the FO has determined that special player isn't in this class, but then we must take one next year and trade up, if necessary. As the team gets better, it will cost the team more and more to get in position to draft a franchise LT. This is not to be confused with reaching for a LT... again, if that guy doesn't exist, by all means, kick the can down the road.

Good point.

I like Membou and Banks well enough.

Kinda have to take what falls to 10.

Banks, Membou, Graham, Jeanty, Warren, CB? Trade down?

If Shadeur Sanders is available does somebody trade up for him?

 

[RiDLer80]

Mike Green or Mykel Williams

 

[TL1961]

Braxton certainly is not a backup on many teams. He's an average tackle and will get paid a ton of money in FA if he starts and plays solid again this year.

Why moving on an taking a tackle at #10 isnt a bad idea, but that rookie likely wont outplay braxton in 2025 if he's healthy and back to his preinjury form.

Let’s try to keep things in perspective. Braxton Jones was taken in the fifth round and because he became a starting left tackle that seems like really good value so people are over valuing him.

If the Bears were to take a tackle at number 10, he absolutely would be expected to be better than Braxton. This idea that “a rookie“ would not be better than Braxton is kind of ridiculous.

We’re all happy that Braxton as a fifth rounder could start as a rookie, but he’s never been a top tackle and that’s what they want.

Let’s say they draft at number 10 and the guy they draft does not immediately become all pro. That’s a fair expectation of course. But do we really think he’s not better than Braxton?

Or put another way, if the Bears brain trust does not believe that they can get a tackle at number 10 who is better than Braxton. They simply won’t be drafting on there.

 

[pseudonym]

Warren TE. Trade back up for Conerly LT. Taken Henderson RB at 41. Prince ED at 72. DONE.

 

[Washington]

100% agree with you on Egbuka. He would be a great addition to the WR room if he’s somehow still there when the bears pick in the 2nd round

I don't believe Egbuka makes it out of the 1st. He's a damn good WR who has been behind 2 super star WRs.