2023 NFL Draft: Bears should consider Peter Skoronski in 1st round despite short arms

Let me make one thing clear at the start of this post: The Chicago Bears won’t draft Northwestern offensive lineman Peter Skoronksi with the No. 1 overall pick. They won’t even draft him with the No. 4 pick if they trade down with the Indianapolis Colts. But if they trade with the Atlanta Falcons (No. 8) or Carolina Panthers (No. 9), they’ll probably have their choice of any offensive lineman in the 2023 NFL Draft.

And that’s where Skoronski comes in.

The former four-star recruit starred at Northwestern as one of the best left tackles in the nation over the last three seasons, including 33 starts since his true freshman year. He had little trouble handling college edge rushers, but as he makes the jump to the NFL, scouts and draft analysts are projecting he’ll move inside and play guard because of his arm length.

Skoronski’s arms measured 32 1/4 inches at the 2023 NFL Combine, which falls short of the NFL standard 33-inch mark (minimum) for offensive tackles. And while it may seem silly that 3/4 of an inch can flip a player from an early first-round tackle prospect to a mid-first-round guard, it’s the nature of the beast. NFL teams are creatures of habit, and rarely will a front office invest in an offensive tackle who doesn’t mean the position’s minimums.

I get it. The list of short-armed college tackles who became top-tier interior players is long. Dallas Cowboys star guard Zack Martin was a dominant college tackle at Notre Dame who shifted to guard in the pros after his arms measured 32 7/8 inches. Martin has since become one of the NFL’s best interior linemen.

Martin is a common player comp for Peter Skoronski at this point in the 2023 NFL Draft process, and while it could be true that Skoronski becomes a 10-year starter at guard, there’s enough elite college tape to at least give him a shot at right tackle. And right tackle happens to be one of the Chicago Bears’ biggest needs this offseason.

General manager Ryan Poles may go the traditional route and sign a well-established veteran in free agency to line up as a starter at right tackle on the Bears’ offensive line in 2023. But if he strikes out on the open market, Skoronski warrants a long look to be that guy, at least initially, next year.

Perhaps the most appealing aspect of Peter Skoronski’s scouting report is his positional versatility. The odds he becomes a bust are very low. Even if he struggles on the edge, he can be inserted at guard or center, another massive weakness in Chicago. There’s no doubt he’ll thrive inside.

According to NFL Mock Draft Database, which aggregates 91 big boards and 790 first-round mock drafts, Skoronksi is ranked the No. 14 prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft. His most common mock draft position is No. 13 overall to the New York Jets. If the Chicago Bears trade down to the bottom half of the top 10, it would by no means be a reach to call his name.

The Bears need to hit on their first-round pick in this year’s draft. And while the ideal situation is for that “hit” to come at a premium position like offensive tackle, it’s equally important that whoever is the first selection in Chicago’s draft class is a long-term starter, even if it’s along the interior of the offensive line.

Peter Skoronski gives the Chicago Bears a swing at both of those outcomes. He has a chance to overcome the odds and be the Bears’ right tackle for a decade. Maybe he’s an All-Pro center or guard. Regardless of where his success occurs, he’s a logical first-round target, even if he has short arms.

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