The Chicago Bears can’t focus all of their evaluation efforts ahead of the draft on just the big names they could take 10th overall. Great teams are often the ones who can find hidden gems in the later rounds and undrafted free agency. The Philadelphia Eagles wouldn’t be world champions without guys like Jordan Mailata (7th round), Josh Sweat (4th round), and Reed Blankenship (undrafted) all developing into quality starters. GM Ryan Poles and the front office appear busy looking for such gems of their own.
While more big names have popped up on the top-30 visits list, they’ve also been meeting with less heralded players. Justin Melo of The Draft Network revealed three in quick succession over the past two days.
The Chicago Bears remain active in their evaluations.
Josh Priebe (OL, Michigan)
The best player on an underperforming offensive line in 2024. Priebe is your classic throwback offensive lineman: big, strong, tough, and nasty. He’s at his best in the run game, where he helped open plenty of holes. He started 29 games, so he is plenty experienced. He showcases plenty of intelligence in his blocking against stunts and blitzes. The primary concerns are his average athleticism and the fact he turns 24 this year, making him an older rookie.
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Braelon Sloan (RB, Ball State)
Versatility is essential in the NFL these days. Players who can do more than one thing well tend to see the field. Sloan proved capable of that last year as he rushed for 4.0 yards per carry, caught 29 passes, and threw a passing touchdown. It was the same at Eastern Kentucky, where he had over 1600 all-purpose yards in 2023. Nothing special stands out athletically with him. Still, there is clear intrigue with how much he can contribute in different ways.
Xander Mueller (LB, Northwestern)
Dennis Allen prefers linebackers who can play downhill, meaning they’re capable of applying pressure to the quarterback. Mueller did tons of that across three years at Northwestern, collecting 8.5 sacks and 27 tackles for a loss. He’s tough, instinctive, and tackles well once he gets a bead on the runner. There will be questions about his athletic limitations. That said, his sheer production suggests he understands how to mask his deficiencies to play good football.
