Three prospects the Bears have to put on their radar after exciting workouts on Day 2 of the NFL Combine
Day 2 of the NFL Combine is in the rear-view mirror, meaning all defensive players in attendance at the event have wrapped up their on-field testings along with the tight end class that turned out to be better than expected. The Chicago Bears should feel really strong about the groups that went on Day 2 […]
Day 2 of the NFL Combine is in the rear-view mirror, meaning all defensive players in attendance at the event have wrapped up their on-field testings along with the tight end class that turned out to be better than expected.
The Chicago Bears should feel really strong about the groups that went on Day 2 in the defensive back and tight end positions.
The Bears are potentially in the market to acquire a new player at both positions. Chicago will mainly be looking to find a new replacement for Eddie Jackson at safety and the addition of offensive coordinator Shane Waldron could sway the front office into pursuing another tight end to play alongside Cole Kmet. Here's three of the top performers from Day 2 who should be on the Bears' draft radar.
Utah S Cole Bishop
If the Bears are looking for a safety to replace their former Pro Bowler in the secondary though the draft, the front office should look no further than Cole Bishop.
On Tuesday, Bears head coach Matt Eberflus laid out what he's looking for to fill the vacant role on his defense and mentioned looking for a player with high athletic ability and a player that has some range to him.
During his performance on Friday, Bishop was able to demonstrate both of those skills and more during his on-field testings. Bishop ran an official 4.45 40-yard dash, the fourth-fastest time recorded among the safeties in attendance.
Bishop was able to show off his range and ball skills during the various tests conducted throughout the day. His 10'4" broad jump also came in at an impressive number and his 39" vertical ended up giving him an elite composite grade per RAS.
Auburn S Jaylin Simpson
Another safety that meets the qualifications Eberflus is looking for that could now be on the Bears' radar is Auburn's Jaylin Simpson. Simpson was tied for the fastest 10-yard split among the safeties during his 4.45 40-yard dash.
Simpson edged Bishop with an 11'1" broad jump that ranked second among all safeties. As for the ball skills, Simpson was able to show off his abilities that helped illustrate how he finished with four interceptions during the 2023 season.
Eberflus also mentioned he's looking for a player who could complement Jaquan Brisker and be a great communicator. His energy shown on the field on Friday checked the boxes for those factors as well.
Kansas St. TE Ben Sinnott
The Bears have already been doing their homework on the former Wildcat after Ben Sinnott revealed that he spoke Bears' tight ends coach Jim Dray on Thursday.
With the Bears interest already peaked going into his on-field testings, the Bears should be on high alert for what Sinnott could potentially bring to their offense.
The former SIX sport athlete growing up showcased an insane level of athleticism for a player who measured in at 6'3 and 250 pounds. Sinnott's 40" vertical jump was tied for the second-highest by a tight end weighing over 250 pounds since 2003.
Sinnott was asked about potentially playing fullback in Chicago and has experience in the backfield at Kansas State. He would be a mighty fine addition to the offense.
Honorable Mention: Texas Tech S Tyler Owens
The prospect I was most excited to see on Day 2 had his day unfortunately cut short but not before having an impressive start to his on-field testing.
Texas Tech safety Tyler Owens started his day off with the second-longest broad jump in NFL Combine history with a 12'2" and was one inch shy of the record. He also had an impressive 41" vertical jump, which ranked fourth among all defensive backs.
However, during his highly anticipated 40-yard dash, Owens pulled up short due to an injury and limped off the field. Owens did not take part in any test for the rest of the day. Hopefully the Bears can get a better look at his speed if he's healthy enough to perform during the Texas Tech Pro Day in the coming weeks before April's draft.
Matt Eberflus reveals what he’s looking for in Eddie Jackson’s replacement at safety
He knows what he wants.
