Eight prospects the Bears should have their eyes on at the Senior Bowl
The 2024 Reese's Senior Bowl is officially underway in Mobile, Alabama with the first day of practice already in the books. The Senior Bowl has always been a great opportunity for promising scouts to perform in front of various scouts and front office executives from all 32 teams. The Chicago Bears have had a strong […]
The 2024 Reese's Senior Bowl is officially underway in Mobile, Alabama with the first day of practice already in the books.
The Senior Bowl has always been a great opportunity for promising scouts to perform in front of various scouts and front office executives from all 32 teams.
The Chicago Bears have had a strong showing throughout the week already in Mobile with multiple team scouts in attendance along with general manager Ryan Poles and assistant general manager Ian Cunningham.
Over 150 prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft are looking to make a name for themselves this year at the Senior Bowl. Here's eight names to keep an eye on as potential targets for the Bears in April's draft:
UCLA DE Laiatu Latu
The Bears have already been heavily connected to UCLA pass rusher Laiatu Latu in the early process leading up to the draft in a few notable mock drafts. The Bears, armed with the first and ninth overall picks in the first round, could elect to draft a star pass rusher to pair with Montez Sweat in 2024 with their second pick in the opening round.
Latu is an intriguing name to keep in mind after putting together his best collegiate season in 2023, recording 13.0 sacks and 21.5 tackles for a loss. The 2023 Lombardi Award winner is one of the most decorated and productive pass rushers at the Senior Bowl this year and will have plenty of eyes on him.
NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah listed Latu as his 21st ranked prospect in his updated Top-50 prospects list for the 2024 NFL Draft while claiming that he is the most "skilled pass rusher in this class." Our own Destin Adams had an even higher praise listed Latu at 7th on his own Top-50 big board.
Oregon C Jackson Powers-Johnson
Oregon center Jackson Powers-Johnson has already made quite the name for himself at the 2024 Senior Bowl. Powers-Johnson is widely considered the top center in the class and ranked 35th on Jeremiah’s Top-50 board.
Powers-Johnson has experience at all three interior offensive line positions but is best suited in the NFL at the center position, which is where he will be lining up during the week down in Mobile. According to Pro Football Focus, Powers-Johnson allowed zero sacks and just one pressure on 497 pass blocking snaps in 2023.
The Bears are in dire need of an upgrade at the center position next season no matter who is at quarterback. Powers-Johnson's current stock could push him out of range for the Bears who currently are not in possession of a selection in the second round. However, some potential moves between now and April could change that.
USC WR Brenden Rice
USC wide receiver Brenden Rice had perhaps the most impressive and well documented performance during the first day of practice at the Senior Bowl. Rice recorded a career-high 791 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2023 playing alongside quarterback Caleb Williams who is the betting favorite to be drafted by the Bears with the top pick in the draft.
Rice put on a show on Tuesday in front of multiple scouts and executives. If the Bears elect to draft Williams with the first overall pick, they could get a bargain later in the draft in his top college weapon to pair with wide receiver DJ Moore.
The son of NFL great and Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerry Rice is ready to make his own name in the NFL and is already on the right track to do so at the Senior Bowl.
Arizona WR Jacob Cowing
Arizona wide receiver Jacob Cowing is another player who could become a late bargain in a loaded wide receiver class. Cowing recorded 500+ yards in each of his four collegiate seasons (including his first three years at UTEP). In 2023, Cowing had a career-high 13 touchdowns and was tied for second in the Pac-12 with 90 receptions.
Cowing is still a work in progress at the position but has all the makings to eventually become a dangerous pass catcher at the next level. Outside of Moore, the Bears only have two returning wide receivers who played meaningful snaps in 2023. The position will have to heavily been addressed at some point during the draft.
Georgia S Tykee Smith
Georgia safety Tykee Smith is perhaps one of the most versatile defensive backs at the Senior Bowl and he proved that during his time with the Bulldogs. Smith played closer to the line of scrimmage at Georgia but has the traits to be utilized downfield as well.
Smith recorded a career-high four interceptions and 70 tackles in 2023. He could be exactly what the Bears are looking for at the safety position if they decide to move on from veteran Eddie Jackson who will be carrying a massive $18+ million cap hit into the 2024 season.
Florida OL Kingsley Eguakun
Florida offensive lineman Kingsley Eguakun caught the attention of multiple eyes during the first day of practice at the Senior Bowl by showing off his power and explosiveness on the offensive line. Eguakun started at center for the Gators but missed all but four games in 2023. This is his opportunity to prove he's healthy and so far he's been able to do so.
The 2024 Draft class is filled with multiple starting caliber interior offensive linemen but perhaps Eguakun is the one who blows the doors off the Bears' front office while playing for Bears tight end coach Jim Dray, who is serving as the offensive line coach for the National team at the Senior Bowl.
Miami S Kamren Kinchens
Miami safety Kamren Kinchens is another player who could potentially lift his stock outside of the Bears' range barring any trades that could occur between now and the start of the draft. Kinchens was tied for 6th in the FBS with a team-high five interceptions in 2023 and could be the next top defensive back to come out of Miami.
Beyond being a ball hawk in the secondary, Kinchens has proven himself to be a hard hitting safety, a pairing that could heavily appeal to Bears head coach Matt Eberflus and newly hired defensive coordinator Eric Washington.
Illinois IDL Keith Randolph Jr.
Illinois defensive lineman Keith Randolph Jr. had himself a great opening day as well putting together multiple solid plays on the tape. Randolph has totaled 10.0 sacks and 23.0 tackles for a loss in his career at Illinois and could be a perfect developmental interior defensive lineman at the next level.
Poles drafted two interior defensive linemen in the 2023 NFL Draft that showed out at the Senior Bowl prior to the draft in Gervon Dexter Sr. and Zacch Pickens. If he wants to add another monster on the interior to the rotation, Randolph is his guy.
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