Chicago Bears 2020 NFL Draft 7th Round Picks – Instant Reaction

April 25, 2020

By Ha Kung Wong

Pick 226

Arlington Hambright

Offensive Tackle – Colorado

I wasn’t big on drafting a tackle in the draft due to the contracts of Charles Leno Jr. and Bobby Massie, which essentially lock them in as the starting left and right tackles in 2020. But there certainly isn’t a reason to avoid giving them some competition, particularly because both players have outs in their contracts after this season. But how about taking a tackle that can play guard?

Arlington Hambright started 17 of 18 games at left tackle over the last two seasons combined between Colorado and Oklahoma State. Prior to that, though, Hambright played at Garden City Community College in Kansas playing both guard and tackle and being part of their 2016 junior college national championship team (where he facilitated 206 rushing yards per game through the season). He started all 11 games at Colorado, piling up 68 knockdown blocks, 12 touchdown blocks and 13 perfect plays on passing touchdowns leading to honorable mention All-Pac-12 honors. Against Stanford, he was named the Pac-12 Offensive Lineman of the Week (paving the way for 172 rush yards), one of three times he was nominated with others coming against Nebraska and Washington.

All that being said, due to his 6′ 3″ height, it’s most likely he’ll shift inside to guard in the NFL, which actually addresses a bigger need for the Bears. As a side note, he probably has one of the coolest names of any lineman I’ve ever heard of. So, there’s also that.

Pick 228

Lachavious Simmons

Offensive Guard – Tennessee State

Speaking of which, I actually thought that interior offensive line was one of the most important positions to address in the draft, and the Bears did nothing about it until the 7th Round. Better late than never, I suppose. Germain Ifedi hasn’t consistently played guard since 2016, and Rashaad Coward only moved there last fall. The Bears ground game was abysmal in 2019, ranking 4th to last per DVOA, and the only way to improve that (other than perhaps getting another running back) is to upgrade at guard, something they failed to do in free agency. Maybe Hambright can be that guy based on what he’s done to facilitate the ground game in college, but in the 7th Round, might as well take more than one flyer.

Lachavious Simmons played up and down the offensive line for the Tigers, at both left and right tackle and at right guard. He started in all 12 games last season, anchoring an offensive line that averaged 400.1 yards per game, finished third in the Ohio Valley Conference in total offense, second in passing with 260.7 yards per game and allowing the second least amount of sacks in the conference at 1.75 yards per game, paving the way to All-Ohio Valley Conference team honors for Simmons. In 2018, he helped an offensive unit which ranked 20th in the country in passing and ranked 31st in total offense and has been a solid contributor since redshirting in 2015. There’s some raw talent and versatility here, but based on the level of competition faced in college, Simmons looks to be more of developmental project than having instant impact.