Bucky Brooks 2023 Mock Draft: NFL Network analyst sends Bears OL in 1st round

At this point in the 2023 NFL Draft calendar, it’s become a foregone conclusion that the Chicago Bears will select an offensive lineman in the first round.

NFL Network’s Bucky Brooks is the latest to jump aboard the offensive lineman bandwagon. In his most recent 2023 mock draft, he sends the Bears a local product that profiles as a potential All-Pro: Northwestern’s Peter Skoronski.

“The polished technician would be a plug-and-play starter for the Bears at either tackle spot,” Brooks wrote.

It’s an interesting take by Brooks. Most NFL Draft analysts have Skoronski pegged as a guard in the NFL because of his arm length. I happen to be in that camp, too. I don’t see the former Wildcat as an elite left or right tackle. Whereas, at guard? He could develop into one of the best in the league.

Take Dallas Cowboys star Zack Martin, for example. The former Notre Dame star was a standout at offensive tackle in college. Much like Peter Skoronski, his arms checked in too short for offensive tackle standards in the pros. He’s since been kicked inside and has been to eight Pro Bowls, and is a six-time first-team All-Pro guard.

It’s a slippery slope to compare any college prospect to one of the best players at their position in the NFL. But for Skoronski, it fits.

Will the Chicago Bears value Skoronski’s versatility over Johnson’s prototype traits?

The question the Chicago Bears must answer is whether they value a potential All-Pro guard high enough to take with a top-10 pick. The fact Peter Skoronski can play tackle in the NFL could boost him higher on the Bears’ draft board because of his versatility.

If I were a betting man, I’d slot Paris Johnson Jr. in at No. 9. Brooks has the Ohio State left tackle coming off the board at No. 11 to the Tennessee Titans.

Johnson fits every metric the Bears value in offensive linemen. He’s an above-average athlete with prototype measurables and similar versatility as Skoronski. If offensive tackle is Ryan Poles’ first-round preference, it’ll be Johnson over Skoronski.