LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Kiran Amegadjie grew up playing Madden and running around with Chicago Bears star returner Devin Hester in the video game. And now he’ll wear the same jersey as one of his childhood heroes.
The Bears drafted Amegadjie, a 6-foot-5, 323-pound offensive tackle from Yale, in the third round with the 75th pick in the NFL Draft on Friday night. It was the Bears’ only pick on Day 2 of the draft — and they used it on a local product. Amegadjie attended Hinsdale Central High School in the Chicago suburbs.
“This is everything I’ve wanted since I was a little kid,” Amegadjie said. “I can’t even put it into words. It’s amazing.”
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Amegadjie received a text message from new Bears quarterback Caleb Williams not long after his selection, too.
“How could I not be happy?” Amegadjie said. “I’m excited to get to work with those guys.”
The Hinsdale native is comin’ home 🏠
Let’s get it, @the2kkiran5! pic.twitter.com/Z0AMkXBEkG
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) April 27, 2024
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‘The Beast’ breakdown
Amegadjie ranked No. 87 in Dane Brugler’s top 300 big board. Here’s what Brugler had to say about him in his annual NFL Draft guide:
“A three-year starter at Yale, Amegadjie lined up at left tackle the last two seasons in Yale’s multiple run scheme. After not playing football until midway through high school, he put himself on the NFL radar with his ascending play in the Ivy League, although his season-ending injury in 2023 was disappointing — he missed half of his final season and NFL scouts were unable to see him face better competition at the Senior Bowl.
“From a size and athletic standpoint, Amegadjie pops on film, because of his rare length, light feet and smooth body control to mirror pass rushers or create momentum as a run blocker. Though he does a great job repositioning his hands and feet, his inexperience is also apparent when it comes to timing and adjustment fundamentals.
“Overall, Amegadjie is a raw prospect who needs technical and strength work before he sees live NFL reps, but his physical ingredients and competitive drive are the foundational elements that pro coaches want to develop. He projects as a backup left tackle as a rookie who has all the tools to gradually develop into an NFL starter.
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Scott Dochterman grades the pick
Bears general manager Ryan Poles is known for addressing the offensive line, so it’s no surprise he did so with this pick. But with glaring holes at defensive tackle and defensive end, he went for boom or bust. Amegadjie has left tackle arm length (36 1/8) and was a two-time All-Ivy League offensive lineman despite playing only four games in 2023 with a torn left quad. This might have been a reach at this point.
Grade: C-minus
Don’t get to see Kiran Amegadjie (#72) pass protect in straight dropback situations too often, but it goes how you would expect in the FCS. pic.twitter.com/JBzEbQ2W7B
— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) April 10, 2024
How he fits
The Bears passed on offensive tackles in the first round in favor of receiver Rome Odunze. But it always felt like a position that the Bears could add in the draft. Right now, Amegadjie is a backup behind left tackle Braxton Jones and potentially veteran Matt Pryor. But Bears co-director of player personnel Trey Koziol said the team sees Amegadjie as having starter potential.
“Our goal as an organization is just to acquire as much talent as we can and then let the competition play out however that may be during training camp,” Koziol said.
In other words, Amegadjie should be expected to push Jones and others up front for a starting role as his development continues. Amegadjie was drafted with a higher selection than Jones, the No. 168 pick in the fifth round in 2022.
Rookie impact
Amegadjie said he wants to marry his nastiness with his technique on the field. But returning to the field and staying there is a good first step. He appeared in only four games last season at Yale after suffering a partially torn left quad in practice in October. He required surgery. The Bears’ medical team cleared him for his selection.
“I feel really good right now,” Amegadjie said. “I’m ready to get to work. Obviously, it was pretty bad timing (with) the injury, but God works in mysterious ways. Obviously, it was the path I had to take to get where I am today. I’m not going to let it deter me going forward.”
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Depth-chart impact
Right now, the Bears’ offensive line is set, from left to right: Jones, Teven Jenkins, Ryan Bates, Nate Davis, Darnell Wright (the No. 10 pick last year). Amegadjie, who has 36 1/8-inch arms, said he sees himself as a tackle after starting 14 games on the left side over the past two seasons at Yale. But he also played right guard for 10 games during the 2021 season.
“I think I’m a very confident person,” Amegadjie said. “I’m a great player, but I’m not a finished product and I’ll never be ashamed of that. Everyday is a work ethic thing. It’s about getting better, and my ceiling is extremely high. I believe I have the highest ceiling in this entire draft class of any player.”
They also could have picked …
The Bears’ selection of Amegadjie was sandwiched between two pass rushers. The Atlanta Falcons drafted Washington’s Bralen Trice at No. 74, while the Denver Broncos took Utah’s Jonah Elliss at No. 76. Adding a pass rusher would have filled a more glaring roster hole for the Bears. But the team opted for better depth up front and a potential future starter in Amegadjie.
“As a player, he’s a special talent,” Koziol said. “He’s got really rare physical traits. I think he’s a player that’s on the ascent.”
Fast evaluation
Investing in premium positions is never a bad move. The Bears could have taken a pass rusher, but pass protectors remain just as important, especially if you just took a quarterback with the first pick in the draft. Investing around Williams will always be important.
(Photo by Williams Paul / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
