The Chicago Bears appear to have something very promising with Caleb Williams, but his play this year has shown just how tough the Bears' offensive line is at times. Williams' bad habit of holding the ball, coupled with those issues, has led to a ton of sacks.
Not only do embattled GM, Ryan Poles and whomever he hires as the next head coach have to figure out the offensive line, but they also have a defensive line that needs another edge rusher to become an elite unit and a backfield lacking some juice after D'Andre Swift's tough season.
While the Bears have the No. 9 pick in the NFL Draft again if the season ended today, the best option for this team could be trading down, stockpiling picks, and trying to fix as many holes as possible in the first three rounds.
TRADE: Bears Acquire No. 14, No. 81, and No. 229 from Colts for No. 9
Round 1, Pick 14: Jonah Savaiinaea, IOL, Arizona
Moving down in this draft and still selecting a versatile tackle/guard that can be a starter for the next decade would be one heck of a way for the new coach to kick off his new regime. Savaiinaea may be better as a guard, as his run blocking on the edge can be tough due to limited literal mobility.
Power is the name of Savaiinaea's game, as he can flatten opposing defenders easily while showing some oddly solid footwork in pass protection. If keeping Williams safe is the name of the game, Savaiinaea is the best pick.
Round 2, Pick 41: Landon Jackson, EDGE, Arkansas
Jackson is a weird player to profile, as he is a 6-7, 280-pound defensive end with some very robotic and slow movements in open space. His pass rush ceiling is much more limited than most Day 2 edge rushers. However, the flashes of brilliance are there for a player who should be a high-end edge run defender instantly.
Jackson has solid power, a diverse toolbox of pass rush moves, and a ceaseless motor. Jackson is a very safe pick for a Bears defensive line that needs one more impact playmaker to go from a good unit to a great one.
Round 3, Pick 73: Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa
In a running back class that is very deep, the Bears should be able to find a contributor in rounds three or four this year. Given D'Andre Swift's tough start to life in Chicago and Roschon Johnson's brutal lack of explosion in the open field, a new name in the mix is necessary to move forward.
Johnson doesn't have great speed, but he is an old-school power back who can slam into tacklers and grind out tough yards. With some shiftiness and receiving potential, Johnson will have a role in the Chicago backfield for years to come.
Round 3, Pick 81: Earnest Greene, OT, Georgia
The Bears decided to take one developmental tackle in Kiran Amegadjie, so why not add another? Rather than coming from an Ivy League school that played maybe two or three future NFL players in an entire season, Greene has been a starter for an elite Georgia team.
Greene's biggest issues are all technique related. His film shows an aggressive player with quality athleticism and some ideal size for the position. The Bears need interior linemen more than tackles, but there's no such thing as having too many good offensive tackles in the league.