Chicago Bears Draft Grade for Braxton Jones

Braxton Jones would have been an A+ draft grade even if I didn’t brew Halas Hall Kool Aid in my bathtub. He is an intelligent, articulate gentleman, and that carries a lot of weight with me. Don’t get me wrong, he looks ferocious on the field, but so do Zen warriors, and I’ll take them over berserkers any day.

Thoughtful was another impression Braxton Jones emanated. I am inclined to believe that he will be a quick learner. Bigger than that, I believe he got drafted into a dreamy good situation.

I know the pundits are all busy wailing and gnashing their teeth about how Ryan Poles has thrown Justin Fields under the bus, but I barely hear them. I’m too busy looking forward to seeing what all this ends up looking like on the field.

Poles has made all the right choices so far, given the abyss Pace left behind. Those right choices do include acknowledging that we won’t fix all the holes this season. Coming in expecting to fill them all in one offseason would have been futile, even reckless, especially with all the inherent complexity of a regime change season.

So, Braxton Jones has a puncher’s chance at starting some time this year, and that is fertile ground for a man driven to succeed. Mind you, not getting coached off a cliff and thrown under a bus simultaneously could be a benefit to his competition, but never getting that in the first place can’t be too large of a disadvantage.

The couple of times I have heard him speak, Braxton Jones’ persona reminded me a bit of Akiem Hicks, who has always been an absolutely top class player, both on and off the field. Not that I expect him to take this as pressure, but he strikes me as the kind of guy who ought to aim that high!

Bear down and Pass the Halas Hall Kool Aid!