With April officially here, the countdown to the 2026 NFL Draft is officially on. The Chicago Bears will have four picks in the top 100, including two in the second round, providing the front office with plenty of opportunities to add long-term building blocks as the team continues year two of the Ben Johnson-Ryan Poles era.
While Chicago invested in left tackle last offseason, drafting Ozzy Trapilo, he's expected to miss most of the 2026 season. The Bears did retain veteran Braxton Jones in free agency, and signed former first-round pick Jedrick Wills to a one-year deal, adding both to a group that already includes undrafted free agent Theo Benedet. Left tackle may not be the biggest need for Chicago but adding a long-term option may not be a bad idea, especially since the front office can't hinge on Trapilo returning to pre-injury form.
One name that could make sense on day two at either 57th, 60th, or 89th overall is Boston College offensive tackle Jude Bowry.
Let's get into our scouting report on Bowry.
Jude Bowry, Boston College, (6-foot-5, 314 pounds)
From his NFL.com draft profile via Lance Zierlein:
"Toolsy left tackle prospect carrying both a higher ceiling and lower floor. Bowry is typically in the right place at the right time in protection. He has the feet to match edge speed but needs to improve hand usage and punch timing to firm up his outside edge/protect against bull rushers. He's hit-or-miss as a drive blocker but the hits carry force and movement. Inconsistencies are a concern, but Bowry is a plus athlete who could be targeted as a swing tackle on the second or third day of the draft."
Film:
Strengths:
- Solid athlete who has the traits needed to turn into a good starter at the next level.
- Explodes out of his initial stance to get into pass protection sets.
- Plays with a good base, helping him establish a strong anchor.
- Strong anchor shows up on film.
- Has the ability to get to the second level with ease.
- Powerful at the point of attack in the run game.
- Best football seems to be ahead of him.
Weaknesses:
- May need to kick inside at the next level in order to realize his true potential due to his shorter arms.
- Hand placement needs some work, especially when he punches.
- Will struggle against speed-to-power edge rushers.
- Must learn to improve his pad level if he's going to avoid losing reps at the next level.
- Rarely puts himself in a position to create leverage on run blocks.
Does Bowry fit the Bears offense?
Bowry would be the classic Poles third-round pick. He's got the traits and athleticism needed to develop into a solid player, but has to improve his abilities as a run blocker and pass protector, especially with his hand placement. He wouldn't be ready to start day one for Chicago and would need some time before he can actually play meaningful reps in an actual game, but the potential of what he could develop into is hard to dismiss.
Conclusion:
Bowry's film shows a good player who could become a starter in the right situation at left tackle but teams may decide to kick him inside if it means giving him an opportunity to see the field sooner rather than later.
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