With the month of March officially here, all 32 NFL franchises are gearing up for the 2026 NFL Draft. The scouting combine is officially in the rearview mirror, which means that teams have some additional clarity about what the 2026 draft class could look like and, more specifically, what to expect in terms of the interior offensive line class.
For the Chicago Bears, this year's draft will represent a significant opportunity to continue adding to the foundation that was established during the first year of the Ben Johnson-Ryan Poles era. In what was expected to be an offseason where the Bears would focus heavily on defense, the retirement of center Drew Dalman means the Bears front office could turn to next month's draft to find a long-term replacement.
Kansas State Wildcats offensive lineman Sam Hecht is a name to watch for the Bears, especially with the 89th overall pick in the third round. Let's get into our scouting report on Hecht.
Sam Hecht, Kansas State, (6-foot-4, 303 pounds)
From his NFL.com draft profile via Lance Zierlein:
"Hecht lacks ideal mass and length but it will be hard to find a center in this year's draft with better technique. He plays with well-placed inside hands that help maximize his leverage and core strength. All schemes are available to him but his athleticism will shine when activated in space. He stays sticky to blocks once he connects, but his lack of length will put him on the wrong side of the battle from time to time in both the run and pass phases. Hecht needs to add more muscle mass to his frame but he has the consistency and tape of a future starter."
Film:
Strengths:
- Excellent body control on every rep paired with excellent footwork.
- Athleticism is prevalent on tape, but it isn't his most valuable trait.
- Hands and feet are always moving in unison.
- Strong anchor in pass protection sticks out when blocking defensive linemen.
- Effortlessly climbs to the second level as a player who always keeps his eyes downfield.
- Wide base as a pass protector that shows off his lower leg strength.
Weaknesses:
- Average arm length that could hinder his ability to take on bigger, faster, and stronger defensive linemen.
- Struggles to diagnose what linebackers and defensive linemen will do before the play.
- Not the quickest player when trying to establish leverage and move laterally.
- Can be a tad bit inconsistent at times, leading to missed opportunities.
Does Hecht fit the Bears offense?
Hecht is a player who flashes a lot of potential on tape and has his moments as a pass protector and run blocker. He may be a little bit slower than the Bears like, especially when trying to project whether or not he fits in the Bears run game. As a pass protector, his lack of arm length could really work against him, especially from the Bears perspective, since Chicago prefers a player who can be a force in the middle of the defensive line.
Conclusion:
Hecht is a solid, developmental prospect who could hear his name called during the later hours of day two or the early hours of day three. While he has some traits that make him an interesting prospect, teams will view his lack of arm length and occasional lapses in play as being two reasons that he gets pushed down the board and spends his entire rookie season learning to play the position at the NFL level.
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