Bears select Yale offensive tackle Kiran Amegadjie in the 3rd round of the NFL Draft

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) – Bears head coach Matt Eberflus didn't know who Kiran Amegadjie was when he was approached by him at a local golf club last year, but Amegadjie sure knew of Eberflus and believed that they would meet again.

An offensive tackle prospect at Yale, Amegadjie told Eberflus that he'd one day play for him and the Bears. That vision will soon come true after Chicago selected Amegadjie with the No. 75 overall pick in the third round of the NFL Draft on Friday evening.

"This is everything I've wanted since I was a little kid," said Amegadjie, a Hinsdale Central product who grew up as a Bears fan. "I can't even put it into words. This is amazing."

Amegadjie was a two-time first-team All-Ivy League honoree and a three-year starter Yale, though his 2023 season was cut short due to a quad injury. He played guard in 2021 before shifting to tackle after that.

In Chicago, the 6-foot-5, 323-pound Amegadjie could compete at left tackle with two-year starter Braxton Jones.

"I do think that he's got starter potential," said Bears co-director of player personnel Trey Koziol, who led the team's scouting evaluation on Amegadjie. "And however that competition plays out, we're thrilled with our two young tackles right now, and adding competition to the room is only going to help the Bears."

The Bears selected USC quarterback Caleb Williams at No. 1 overall and Washington receiver Rome Odunze at No. 9 overall in the first round Thursday. They currently hold just one more pick in this draft – No. 122 overall in the fourth round Saturday.

Fifteen minutes after Amegadjie was selected by the Bears, he had already received a text message from Williams welcoming him to the team. Amegadjie was also reminded by Eberflus that he had predicted this night would come to fruition.

"This is something I've been dreaming about for so long," Amegadjie said.

"I don't even know if this is real or I'm dreaming."

Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670 .