The discussion about the quarterback will be the main topic for the Chicago Bears leading up to the NFL draft in three months, and that should be a major focus this week at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala.
Even though top prospects like USC’s Caleb Williams, North Carolina’s Drake Maye, LSU’s Jayden Daniels and Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy are not in the game, it will be an opportunity to observe Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. and Oregon’s Bo Nix up close.
Also, Tulane’s Michael Pratt, South Carolina’s Spencer Rattler and Notre Dame’s Sam Hartman — who are not expected to be the top pick — will make for an interesting group of passers in any draft cycle.
The Bears will have the chance to see Penix and Nix up close four weeks before the scouting combine, and general manager Ryan Poles likely has a detailed plan to assess all options.
Penix threw for 9,504 yards in the last two seasons at Washington, and teams will have many questions about knee and shoulder injuries that affected his first four years at Indiana. Nix also did well after transferring, throwing for 8,101 yards and 74 touchdowns with only 10 interceptions at Oregon the last two years after three inconsistent seasons at Auburn.
The Bears chose four players who took part in the Senior Bowl last year, all in the first four rounds: right tackle Darnell Wright (first round, 10th pick), cornerback Tyrique Stevenson (second round), defensive tackle Zacch Pickens (third) and running back Roschon Johnson (fourth). They also signed undrafted quarterback Tyson Bagent, who improved his stock with a week in Mobile.
The Senior Bowl had a lot of talent last year, with 36 of the first 100 draft picks taking part in the game. In total, 100 players who were in Mobile were drafted, making up 39% of all selections.
While it’s unlikely the first pick in this year’s draft will be in Mobile, there’s a chance the ninth pick — which the Bears also own — will be on display.
UCLA player who specializes in getting to the quarterback Laiatu Latu is one of the highest-regarded prospects committed to the Senior Bowl. Latu had 23 1/2 sacks in the last two seasons for the Bruins, and NFL teams will have the opportunity to see him perform in practice and the game.
They will have a lot of medical questions for Latu that will require careful consideration at the combine, as he briefly retired from football with a neck injury after beginning his college career at Washington. Latu proved to be durable at UCLA, though, and for teams comfortable with his health, he could emerge as the top player who specializes in getting to the quarterback in the draft.
That’s definitely a position the Bears need to figure out as they seek a presence opposite Montez Sweat. It’s not a great draft for pass rushers overall, but Alabama’s Chris Braswell, coming off a 10 1/2-sack season, is regarded as a potential Day 2 pick and is playing in the Senior Bowl.
Center is expected to be a primary need for the Bears, and there’s an interesting group of hopefuls. Before we explore the names, it’s worth wondering what approach the Bears will take. If they plan on drafting a quarterback, would they hesitate to have a rookie snapping the ball? Given the choice, many teams would prefer a veteran center to assist a rookie quarterback with pre-snap reads and calls.
If the Poles and coaching staff think there's a smart potential player who can help a young quarterback, assuming the Bears draft one, maybe they like the idea of more young players on the line.
In that situation, West Virginia’s Zach Frazier, Oregon’s Jackson Powers-Johnson and Duke’s Graham Barton — who played left tackle in college but is expected to play center this week — are interesting options. Also, Georgia’s Sedrick Van Pran and Wisconsin’s Tanor Bortolini offer plenty of choices.
It's rare for top wide receivers to go to Mobile, and elite prospects like Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr., LSU’s Malik Nabers, or Washington’s Rome Odunze won't be there. But the wide receiver class has depth too. Players like South Carolina’s Xavier Legette, North Carolina’s Tez Walker, Arizona’s Jacob Cowing, Louisville’s Jamari Thrash and Western Kentucky’s Malachi Corley are part of the depth. Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr., LSU’s Malik Nabers or Washington’s Rome Odunze. But it’s not only a top-heavy wide receiver class; there’s also tremendous depth. And that’s where players such as South Carolina’s Xavier Legette, North Carolina’s Tez Walker, Arizona’s Jacob Cowing, Louisville’s Jamari Thrash and Western Kentucky’s Malachi Corley come into play.
The Bears have the No. 1 receiver spot sorted with DJ Moore, which is a first in a while. figured out with DJ Moore. With Darnell Mooney coming out of contractThey don’t have a No. 2 receiver and may need some competition for Tyler Scott, who just finished his rookie season. With so many options available, drafting seems to make more sense than splurging in free agency, where proven options will be available.
Free safety is a question on defense, and Miami’s Kamren Kinchens could be a potential late first-round pick. He made 11 interceptions in the last two seasons for the Hurricanes, and while his consistency is in question, few draft options have the kind of range he does.
Teams are always looking for defensive line talent, and Texas’ Byron Murphy is a smaller player (6 feet 1 inch, 297 pounds) who could fit well for the Bears as a disruptive interior player. He had 15 sacks in three seasons for the Longhorns, with 8 1/2 this past season.
It might be more of a desire than a necessity, and the Bears were happy with the progress of 2023 second-round pick Gervon Dexter. But you can't have too many quality defensive linemen.
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