Every pick the Chicago Bears made in the 2024 draft generated a strong response from fans. They were elated by the arrivals of Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze in the 1st round. They were shocked when punter Tory Taylor came in the 4th. The trade back into the 5th round for Austin Booker was met with relief. As for Kiran Amegadjie, it was mostly a mixture of intrigue and uncertainty. The Bears already seemed set at offensive tackle with Braxton Jones. That meant the 3rd rounder from Yale was competition for Larry Borom at the swing tackle spot, right?
GM Ryan Poles confirmed that was true, but he also made it clear Amegadjie has a green light to compete for both starting tackle spots. Chicago isn’t going to play favorites at such an important position. The best players will start. While the Bears don’t think the rookie will be ready to challenge for one this year, they think his upside is massive. By 2025, he will be a force in that offensive line room. There were multiple reasons the Bears were drawn to him, but Co-director of player personnel Trey Koziol pinpointed one strength that set Amegadjie apart from other prospects: his outstanding length and the willingness to use it.
Ivy League players usually aren’t ready for the NFL due to the low level of competition they play against. It takes them a year or two before getting acclimated. From what Koziol said, the Bears’ 3rd round pick is already further along than most blockers his age. That speaks to his dedicated work ethic and standout intelligence. It shouldn’t be a surprise since he went to Yale. His problem is about getting healthy and learning how to handle NFL-caliber pass rushers. That is the hurdle he will have to clear.
Thankfully, he will have a great education right out of the gate. Montez Sweat is one of the best defensive ends in the league. Facing him in practice will help Kiran Amegadjie rapidly improve. Offensive line coach Chris Morgan is no stranger to developing young guys. Jake Matthews, Chris Lindstrom, and Kaleb McGary were some of his big success stories in Atlanta. Amegadjie is every bit as talented as they are. If he does as instructed, he can play tackle in the NFL.
