The deadline for top 30 visits ahead of the NFL draft has finally arrived. It appears the Chicago Bears wanted to ensure they got their last ones in before it was too late. Gary Ross revealed three names they met with, each coming with a different degree of intrigue. It is apparent that GM Ryan Poles focused his remaining time on scanning the landscape for possible options later in the draft. After the 3rd round, Chicago won’t pick again until the 5th. There is a possibility that all three could be available at that spot. Here is what each of them could bring to the table.
The Chicago Bears finish out their visits with intrigue.
Demetrius Knight (LB, South Carolina)
Linebacker feels like a position that will undergo changes at some point in the near future. Dennis Allen likes instinctive players who are aggressive downhill. Knight embodies that style. He had 14 tackles for a loss and three sacks over the past two seasons. He’s a high-motor player with great instincts who also doesn’t look bad in coverage, snagging three interceptions. While not the best athlete, he has enough to be a three-down player. He’s also a cousin of former Pro Bowl cornerback DeAngelo Hall.
Jackson Slater (OL, Sacramento State)
One of the biggest winners of the pre-draft process. Slater was outstanding at the Senior Bowl in February, showcasing his ability to hang with top draft talent after building a name for himself at a smaller school. He’s a good athlete who thrives on the move, making him a perfect fit for an outside-zone system like Ben Johnson’s. This overshadows a surprisingly stout anchor in pass protection. The Chicago Bears will have to overlook his modest size, but that shouldn’t be a big issue.
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Julian Ashby (LS, Vanderbilt)
Re-signing Scott Daly made it clear the Bears have their established starter at long snapper. That said, teams look for competition all the time. Ashby was a Patrick Mannelly semi-finalist last season. He’s a good athlete, but undersized. The Bears likely view him as somebody they’d like to snag in undrafted free agency and stash on the practice squad for emergencies.
