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 for Chicago in round three or round four would be Iowa Hawkeyes offensive linemen Gennings Dunker.
Let's get into our scouting report on Dunker.
Gennings Dunker, Iowa, (6-foot-5, 319 pounds)
From his NFL.com draft profile via Lance Zierlein:
"Dunker is a three-year starter with a pro-ready frame but limited athleticism that is likely to push him inside to guard. He plays with average pad level, heavy hands and enough upper-body power to displace defenders if he plays with more consistent hand placement. His lateral quickness is average and his movements in space are mechanical, leading to difficulty making needed adjustments. The move inside should accentuate his play strength and allow him to get on top of opponents more quickly, but sub-package rushers and gaming fronts could be an ongoing challenge."
Film:
Strengths:
- Experience is a major plus as he started for multiple years in college.
- Powerful at the point of attack with his ability to move defensive linemen out of the way.
- Effective on combo blocks as he moves to the second level.
- Strong lower body shows up on film with his anchor.
- Hand placement is never too wide when engaging with defensive linemen.
- Lateral movement ability shows up on film as a player who climbs to the second level with ease.
Weaknesses:
- Not explosive when getting out into space.
- Pad level is too high at times, leading to him being beat easily.
- Struggles to diagnose stunts and then pick them up.
- Lack of athleticism could mean that he has to move inside to guard.
Does Dunker fit the Bears offense?
Chicago will love Dunker's physicality and the mean streak he plays with, but the lack of foot quickness, especially in the run game, makes him a bit of a liability in the Bears outside zone scheme. He takes the right angles and can climb to the second level, but he may need to move inside to guard if he's really going to make an impact in Chicago's offense.
Conclusion:
Dunker is the classic offensive linemen who plays with a real mean streak on every rep despite the limitations he has. He is a good enough athlete to warrant being a starter at the next level, but moving him inside to guard could be his best bet for having a long NFL career. Expect to hear him be a late-day two selection.
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