The Chicago Bears pre-draft meetings remain ongoing. The team is less than three weeks away from the start of the 2019 draft. They must make sure every avenue is covered. GM Ryan Pace is known for doing his homework. It’s a matter of figuring out where the focus will be. Though extrapolation one can surmise the positions that will be ignored.
Quarterback would top that list. Mitch Trubisky is cemented as the starter with both Chase Daniel and Tyler Bray returning as his backups. Wide receiver would also appear to be set as is the defensive line. Most positions will likely be less focused on adding a difference-maker and more on depth.
However, there are a few that might get some extra attention just to be sure. The news regarding the Bears’ visits to this point reflects that much. Yet amidst their many interviews, a stranger reality has surfaced.
Just made multiple updates to my annual draft visit tracker. That includes 17 Top-30 visits & some early Local Pro Day names.
A few numbers that stand out to me:
– 15 RBs
– 5 Kickers
– 9 DBs. #Bears https://t.co/lLLCVdJgmP— Aaron Leming (@AaronLemingNFL) April 7, 2019
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Chicago Bears pre-draft actions don’t include a single tight end
It’s no secret that running back and kicker are the focal point of the Bears’ search for help at this point. Jordan Howard was traded. Cody Parkey was cut. Both positions are in a state of flux at the moment. The draft should be able to help with the former while the latter should get an additional boost from undrafted free agency.
As for defensive back, the departures of Adrian Amos and Bryce Callahan create a need for further depth in the secondary. However, amidst those many meetings, there is a curious anomaly. The Bears have yet to meet with a single tight end in this class, at least publicly. This is curious.
Remember the team lost Daniel Brown to the Jets in free agency and cut Dion Sims. This on top of the somewhat shaky durability of both Trey Burton and Adam Shaheen. The position isn’t in dire need but nobody can call it a strength either. So for them to not meet with anybody is unusual, especially since this 2019 draft class is considered fairly strong at the position as Chris Roling of Bleacher Report explains.
“It’s quietly a good time to need help at tight end…
…And top-heavy with big-play upside doesn’t mean the options fourth and further down the board are bad, either. Like wideout, the position has depth and versatility, with run-blocking a key factor some of the lesser-known names (Stanford’s Kaden Smith) do well and a trait teams value.”
This could mean one of two possibilities.
Either the Bears don’t see that value in this class, especially with no 1st or 2nd round picks. Or they covet one or two names out there and have gone extra lengths in order to keep the meetings quiet. Knowing how Pace operates, one would tend to lean towards the latter in this case.
Then again, it could be the Bears want to give Burton and Shaheen one more year to see if they can form a strong combination as hoped.
