Chicago Bears NFL Draft Target: Jackson Hawes

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Dustin Riese - Senior Writer - 6 hours ago

With four selections in the top 75 picks, all eyes will be on the Chicago Bears and what they choose to do on draft weekend. Not only do the Bears have a top-10 pick, but given how many picks they have in the first three rounds, they also have the ammo to package a few picks to move up or make another offseason trade.

For the sake of this column, let's pretend the Bears hold on to their picks and make their selections the pick they are expected to. Should that happen, Chicago has a real chance to add several talented players to this roster, which would only bodes well for the long-term outlook of this team.

Apart from all those early selections, the Bears will have three selections on day three, as these are the selections that often go overlooked. Anytime you are drafted in the fifth round or later as a player, the likelihood of you making an impact is slim to none. Sure, there is the occasional situation where that does happen, but more often than not, the selections that happen in this area are solely depth pieces with the hopes someone can latch on as a special teamer.

Georgia Tech Tight end Jackson Hawes is one of those guys. He is seen as a day-three talent and is graded as a late fourth-rounder. While that may be the case going into the draft, some mock drafts have him falling to Chicago in the fifth round, and that may not be a bad option for the Bears to look at.

When you look at the current tight end room in Chicago, Cole Kmet remains the face of the tight ends in Chicago and is one of the more underrated tight ends in the NFL. Outside him, Chicago doesn't have many reliable options as they cut ties with their backup Gerald Everett while Mercedes Lewis remains a free agent.

Hawes may not be at the same level as those guys, but taking him in the fifth round gives the Bears the tight-end depth they lack, which is something every team needs. The big 6-5, 260-pounder isn't much of a playmaker on the offensive side but instead is known more for his blocking ability, especially in the run game.

That is a big reason why the Bears are linked to him right now, as they are looking to get tougher in the trenches in any way possible. Hawes is a way to get tougher in the trenches at the tight end position as he could be used as an extra blocker when needed.

Looking at his offensive numbers from last season, Hawes wasn't used a ton, but when he was used, he had his moments where you could see him fitting into an offense. His 16 catches were a career-high for any season, as were his 195 yards as Hawes got more involved with the offense his senior season.

Sure, not having a single touchdown reception in 2024 was a concern, but with six career touchdown catches, including a career-high four in 2022, he has shown the ability to be a red zone threat if needed. With Durham Smyth on the roster but only signed to a one-year deal, Hawes is a guy who you could bring along slowly, as he could take over as the No. 2 tight end by 2026.

Hawes is a thump-and-drive tight end with the technique and fire to help make a difference in the run game as both a lead/move blocker and at the point of attack. For a team that not only wants to get tougher in the trenches but is expected to use multiple running backs, you can see the fit.

There are correctable areas as a run blocker, but his demeanor and size make it easier to project his move to the NFL in that area. Given his limited route tree as a receiver, Hawes may be nothing more than a blocking tight end most of his NFL career.