With the scouting combine over, the Chicago Bears have begun their tour of the college football pro day circuit. It is also around this time that they and other teams begin bringing in prospects for private visits. Each team is allowed a maximum of 30 per cycle, so they must determine who would benefit most from a long session. Until recently, Bears general manager Ryan Poles has focused on players he would likely draft somewhere in the top three rounds. Last year, they met with seven eventual 1st round picks, including Colston Loveland, and eight eventual 2nd round picks, including Luther Burden, Shemar Turner, and Ozzy Trapilo.
However, based on early evidence, it appears the Bears might be shifting back to an old strategy. In 2022, Poles seems to place a much heavier focus on prospects more likely to either go in the later rounds (4-7) or become undrafted free agents. Of the reported visits, nine players fell into that category. The idea was to get as much information as possible on players with fewer eyes on them since the Bears planned to be aggressive in the later rounds and undrafted free agency. They ended up making eight picks in the later rounds and signing 16 undrafted rookies.
Based on early evidence, it appears the team has shifted back to that strategy for the 2026 NFL draft.
The Chicago Bears have not yet been reported meeting a top prospect.
To date, five names have been revealed to have come to Chicago for a meeting with the team. All five are projected to go on day three of the draft or become an undrafted free agent.
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- Indiana DE Mikail Kamara
- Kentucky RB Seth McGowan
- Kentucky C Jager Burton
- Ole Miss WR De’Zhaun Stribling
- Michigan LB Jimmy Rolder
This is somewhat curious since the Bears currently have just three picks on day three. They traded their 5th and 6th rounders, leaving them with a 4th and two 7ths. That either means Poles plans to do significant wheeling and dealing in the draft to acquire more or come out aggressively on the undrafted market. Both are distinct possibilities. Poles did a ton of trading in 2022 to secure more picks. He already knows how.
So the obvious question is, why do this? The short answer is depth. Chicago’s roster took a significant hit this offseason. No fewer than 10 players from their team last year have departed in free agency for other teams. Two, D.J. Moore and Tremaine Edmunds, were traded and cut, respectively. The Bears have lost seven full or part-time starters since the offseason began. Now, some of those holes have been plugged with the arrivals of Coby Bryant, Devin Bush, and Neville Gallimore. However, they still have significant holes across the board.
And they’re out of money.
The Bears have two options.
They can restructure several contracts, clearing cap space to sign more veterans, or they can lean into their scouting department and go hunting for lots of young talent. It requires good evaluation and strong enough coaching to make it work. For a long time, they didn’t have the latter. That has changed with the arrival of Ben Johnson and his staff. The Bears’ head coach wants to build this team in his vision. You don’t do that might bringing in cast-offs from other teams. He wants kids from college who are eager to work.
Not all of the names the Chicago Bears bring in will pan out. That is the nature of the NFL. The goal is to see if they can land three or four legitimate contributors in a large pool. It worked in 2022. They landed Braxton Jones in the 5th round as a starting left tackle. Safety Elijah Hicks came in the 7th round and became one of their best special teams players. Last but not least, undrafted free agent linebacker Jack Sanborn emerged as a quality starter on defense. There is a method to the madness.
