An NFL insider projects Alabama's top offensive lineman to shore up a struggling NFC North line, potentially protecting a rising young quarterback.
Alabama's offense is set to look much different in 2026 after losing several key players from the team that made it to the College Football Playoff quarterfinal.
The Crimson Tide will have a new quarterback after Ty Simpson declared for the 2026 NFL Draft. He was basically the entire offense for Alabama last year, as the offense struggled to run the football.
Kadyn Proctor was a good protector for Simpson in 2025. While the Crimson Tide’s offensive line struggled as a unit, Proctor had a solid final year in Tuscaloosa.
Proctor has a good chance of being taken in the first round of the draft.
ESPN's Peter Schrager recently revealed a mock draft based on information he gathered during the league's annual meeting last week in Phoenix. Schrager thinks the Chicago Bears could take him with the No. 25 pick.
"Proctor is a mass of humanity," Schrager wrote. "He weighed in at 358 pounds at his pro day -- but he can move. If he keeps his weight down, Proctor has as much upside as any tackle in this class. And frankly, I think he is going earlier than No. 25.”
"But with Ozzy Trapilo out and Braxton Jones' uneven play, Chicago would be happy with this outcome. General manager Ryan Poles is often credited for the Trey Smith and Creed Humphrey picks in Kansas City, and he has the chance to add another star to the list."
Poles added a right tackle in the first round of the 2023 draft when he selected Darnell Wright out of Tennessee. Wright has been a solid starter for the Bears at right tackle.
Proctor could be a long-term solution for the Bears at left tackle. With quarterback Caleb Williams making great strides in 2025, Chicago wants to make certain they can protect him for Year 3.
In addition to problems at left tackle, center Drew Dalman retired this offseason, causing issues for the interior part of the line.
Drafting a left tackle in the first round would give the Bears a little bit of relief this offseason. Proctor could be the guy who fits towards the latter part of the first round.