Grading the Bears Draft Picks: Kiran Amegadjie |
After stealing the show and putting the league on notice during round one of the NFL draft, the Chicago Bears were back on the clock on Friday, looking to add to an already improving roster. With no picks in round two and only two remaining picks pending trades the rest of the weekend, the Bears are hoping to find some diamonds in the rough heading into next season.
The Bears' selection of Kiran Amegadjie could be the diamond in the rough they are looking for. The former Yale offensive lineman was their third-round pick and No. 75 overall. Adding offensive line help hasn't been an issue for the Bears the past few seasons, but finding quality offensive linemen has been. They have done a much better job of that lately, and with the offensive line vastly improved, adding a player like Amegadjie will only further improve this line by adding more depth to that unit. Unless you are a fan of the FCS and take the time to watch those games, having an opportunity to see IVY players can be challenging. Amegadjie is a great player and one that Chicago fans are going to fall instantly in love with. At 6-5 and 323 pounds, he has the ideal size you look for in an offensive tackle and has steadily improved each season in college. Not to mention, he is an Illinois native having a chance to play for his hometown team. Throw in that he is an IVY league player, and Amegadjle is a very smart person, which is something you always look for in a prospect. Ranked in the top 100 and viewed as a third-round pick in most mock drafts, Amegadjie fell right into the Bears' lap, making the selection easy for them. He has a rare blend of athletic traits and eye-popping length, it might be a mistake to bet against the high number of boxes Amegadjie checks. His hand usage is a work in progress, and he hasn't learned to consistently get into blocks with proper footwork and body control, but both issues are coachable and likely to be corrected. Provided he improves his punch-timing and placement, his ability to keep rushers at the end of his length could become a significant advantage. Amegadjie possesses impressive explosiveness as a drive blocker and could become a quality NFL starter once his teaching is complete. Along with a plethora of IVY League honors, including back-to-back first-team honors, there is a lot to like about Amegadjie's game, and the Bears are hoping to use his strengths to their advantage. He is light on his feet with a strong lower half and uses that athletic ability to his advantage. His long arms enable him to get the separation you love to see, while his often poor hand placement improved immensely over the past two seasons. If there were some things for him to work on, look for the Bears to spend a lot of time with him in training camp to get that done. However, with one of the better offensive line coaches coaching him up and a cast of players who have played together for a long time, Adegadjie will have plenty of time to learn and improve on what he needs to work on. The biggest thing to watch is the jump in competition he will see going from the IVY League to the NFL. It may take some time for him to get used to the speed and size of the NFL game, which is to be expected coming from a small school. Despite his hands improving a ton last season, he still needs a ton of work with his hand placement, which is the biggest reason he struggles to keep his blocks sometimes. Although he is light on his feet and quick for his size, he needs to gain the consistent footwork you like to see as he struggles against defenders who can make double moves. These are all technical things that a player can improve on, but he is a smart player and is willing to put in the work. I’m home! 🐻⬇️ Grade C+ When you start getting into round three, you will see that your overall grades fall a little bit. When it comes to Amegadjle, he has the potential to be one of the steals in the draft but also has some concerns that could lead to many struggles. Due to the wide range of how he can be, a C+ puts him right in the middle, as there is plenty of room for him to grow.
