The Bears selected Iowa center James Daniels with the 39th overall pick Friday night in the second round of the NFL draft.
Daniels started at center the last two seasons for the Hawkeyes, but he has the versatility to play guard.
The 6-foot-3, 306-pound Daniels fills an immediate need for the Bears, who declined veteran left guard Josh Sitton's option this winter. The move gives the Bears the versatility to play Daniels or Cody Whitehair at center or left guard. The line also includes left tackle Charles Leno, right guard Kyle Long and right tackle Bobby Massie.
NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock believed Daniels could have been a late first-rounder because of the sound technique molded at Iowa that has turned him into an excellent run blocker and consistent pass blocker. He is the 16th Iowa offensive lineman to be drafted during coach Kirk Ferentz's tenure since 2000.
He is just 20 years old, so evaluators believe he has room to improve.
"Whenever you're watching Iowa offensive linemen, you know you're going to get a technique-proficient guy," Mayock said. "That is what it is with James Daniels. A big, square dude. Coached very well. The Kirk Ferentz tree of offensive line coaches is phenomenal, so I know what I'm going to get when I get an offensive lineman from Iowa. In the case of Daniels, not only is his technique good, but he's a big kid with physical ability. I think he can play all three interior offensive line positions, but being a center, for me, gives him more value."
The Bears selected Georgia inside linebacker Roquan Smith with the eighth pick in the first round Thursday night.
They do not have a third-round pick because of last year's trade with the 49ers to move up a spot to acquire quarterback Mitch Trubisky.
"Having two fourth-rounders helps us," Bears general manager Ryan Pace said Thursday. "I think this is a pretty deep draft in that area so we're comfortable we're going to get some pretty good players at that part in the draft too."
