Subtle scouting move by Ryan Poles hints the Bears could be looking at two first-round prospects for head coach Ben Johnson
The Chicago Bears general manager was present at the Arizona State Pro Day on Friday.
Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles is getting active on the Pro Day circuit with less than a month until the 2026 NFL Draft. Poles previously attended Pro Days at Oklahoma, Miami, Alabama and now can add Arizona State to the list after his visit on Friday.
Poles’ stop at Alabama was previously the most intriguing visit he’s taken in the pre-draft process, considering he was the only NFL general manager in attendance. His latest visit to Arizona State might one-up the Alabama visit, and the reason why is due to two prospects in particular.
Jordyn Tyson and Max Iheanachor headline the list of prospects at the Arizona State Pro Day
The top two prospects of interest at the Arizona State Pro Day are wide receiver Jordyn Tyson and offensive tackle Max Iheanachor, with both prospects being potential first-round candidates. Tyson currently has an average draft position of 11.68 while Iheanachor has an ADP of 44.09, according to the A to Z Sports Mock Draft Database.
Previously, the thought of landing Tyson with the 25th overall pick wasn’t anything anyone imagined. That belief is starting to gain a little bit of steam due to the latest concerns involving Tyson’s hamstring, an injury that forced him to be unable to participate on Friday at his Pro Day. If those concerns continue to rise, it could easily impact his draft stock.
For a team like the Bears, it could be a concern worth overlooking if he slides all the way down to the 25th overall pick when Chicago is on the clock. Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III had hamstring concerns last summer but still was able to produce during his rookie season and now has a rocket ship on his back going into Year 2. In this kind of offense, head coach Ben Johnson can eventually get a talent like Tyson up to speed and still be a real threat as a rookie alongside Burden and Rome Odunze.
Would the Bears actually consider using a first-round pick on a wide receiver needs to be the real question. Chicago has other glaring needs, but Poles said at the NFL Combine that the Bears will attempt to operate with the best available prospect mentality in the first-round. Tyson is one of the Top-3 wide receivers in the class and the Bears shouldn’t think twice about it if he’s still on the board.
As for Iheanachor, it’s another possible first-round offensive tackle for the Bears to consider after getting a look at Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor earlier in the week. Chicago re-signed Braxton Jones and then added Jedrick Wills Jr. to compete for the left tackle job while 2025 second-round pick Ozzy Trapilo recovers from a patellar tendon injury. While it’s serviceable depth for 2026, it shouldn’t prevent the Bears from considering a top prospect at the position.
Our own A to Z Sports draft expert Kyle Crabbs noted that with the right offensive line coach, Iheanachor could become a Pro Bowl tackle, and the Bears have that kind of guy in Dan Roushar. Iheanachor has the foot speed and quickness to naturally fit in Ben Johnson’s scheme. The concern is whether or not he could make the transition to left tackle. Or, would the Bears consider moving second-team All Pro right tackle Darnell Wright to the left side saying they draft Iheanachor?
Both players are exciting offensive options to consider with the 25th overall pick, saying the Bears actually want to address that side of the ball in the first-round. It’s clear to see why Poles was in attendance to get a closer look at both players, even if Tyson didn’t participate.
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