Picking the Chicago Bears' best Round 4 draft targets before the start of free agency
The Chicago Bears are entering into the busiest time of the NFL offseason leading up to the start of free agency later this week.While general manager Ryan Poles looks to address the positions of need through players on the open market, it'll also be telling to see what positions do not get filled this week […]
The Chicago Bears are entering into the busiest time of the NFL offseason leading up to the start of free agency later this week.
While general manager Ryan Poles looks to address the positions of need through players on the open market, it'll also be telling to see what positions do not get filled this week to determine what the team will be looking for in the 2024 NFL Draft.
The Bears are armed with five selections in the draft, headlined by two picks in the Top-10 selections, but the team won't pick again until the third round. To kick off Day 3, the Bears have two picks in the fourth round to land two difference-makers and these two prospects in particular should be on the team's radar.
The Bears should draft C Beaux Limmer in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft
The Bears enter into the start of the free agency period with a glaring need on the interior of the offensive line, but following the NFL Combine, that need could be addressed in the draft as opposed to bringing in a free agent on the market.
Poles and the team's front office has done a solid job identifying talent on the offensive line through the draft in Darnell Wright and Braxton Jones at tackle and Teven Jenkins at guard. The Bears have already met with a few notable centers in the draft and Arkansas' Beaux Limmer should be on their radar after the combine.
If the interest is there, Limmer could land with the Bears and immediately slide into a starting job in the fourth round. Limmer showed out at the combine recording the most reps on the bench press while running a 4.57 shuttle. Limmer allowed 3 sacks and 12 pressures on 422 pass blocking snaps in 2023, according to Pro Football Focus.
Limmer was ranked as the fifth-best center in this year's draft class on Destin Adams' positional ranking board. He also has experience at guard after playing a total of 794 snaps at right guard during the 2021 season. He's the ideal plug-and-play prospect the Bears are looking for to add this offseason. After already trading for Ryan Bates, the Bears can start a competition between the two to determine who will start at center and who will be a valuable depth piece to have up-front.
The Bears should draft TE Ben Sinnott with their second pick in the fourth round
With the Bears second pick in the fourth round, the front office should stay on the same page and fill another need on offense. The Bears tight end depth is severely lacking heading into the 2024 season behind Cole Kmet and under offensive coordinator Shane Waldron's offense, the unit will need a second tight end.
That role could be filled through free agency or it could be filled with a prospect the Bears are already keeping tabs on. Kansas State's Ben Sinnott noted during the combine that he has already met with Bears' tight ends coach Jim Dray and after his performance during the event, the interest should be even higher.
The Bears' last pick in the draft (as it stands going into the start of free agency) is the perfect range to land Sinnott. The former Wildcat posted 669 receiving yards and six touchdowns during his final season at Kansas State and his versatility will be a major asset to have to pair with Kmet's role in the passing game.
Sinnott already revealed that the Bears inquired about his ability to be utilized out of the backfield in the passing game and as a blocker. According to Pro Football Focus, Sinnott had a 76.1 run blocking grade and a 72.8 pass blocking grade and even played 91 snaps out of the backfield in 2023.
He's exactly the type of #2 tight end the Bears should be looking to add to Waldron's offense and can be much cheaper than any free agent tight end the team could sign.
Predicting the Chicago Bears’ notable free agent signings at the team’s biggest positions of need
Who will the Bears sign next week?
