Chicago Bears Again Meeting With Senior Bowl Standout

The Chicago Bears remain focused on their efforts to prepare for the upcoming 2023 NFL draft. GM Ryan Poles is trying to get his board set before next month. That means attending several pro days and meeting personally with players he feels may have a place on the Bears roster. Poles has already met with several key names ranging from likely 1st round picks to possible undrafted free agents. It’s been interesting to see which positions he favored during that time. The defensive line has been a major focus, unsurprisingly. Where it got interesting is with the latest update.

According to Justin Melo of The Draft Network, the Bears have an interview lined up with Purdue tight end Payne Durham. This comes after rumblings that Jeff Shiver, their longtime Midwest scout, was at the Purdue pro day. It’s becoming clear they have interest in the young man. The genesis of that may have begun at the Senior Bowl, where he really stood out in drills both as a blocker and pass-catcher. It’s hard to ignore a 6’6, 253 lbs guy with long arms and soft hands.

The Chicago Bears have good reasons to like Durham.

Experts are somewhat lukewarm on him because he’s not the new-wave type. He’s not overly fast for a tight end. However, he jumps well and knows how to use his size to his advantage. He can box guys out to make tough catches and then demonstrates the strength to break multiple tackle attempts. His production reflects a steady improvement in college. His senior year was his best, going for 560 yards and eight touchdowns. The blocking also proved fruitful. Durham isn’t flashy, but he does plenty of things well.

This has the feel of a classic Day 3 draft pick that becomes a quality contributor on a team. Think somewhere along the lines of Kellen Davis. Durham may have more potential than that. The Chicago Bears will have to see how the board unfolds for them next month. Tight end likely won’t be high on their priority list. Poles will be focused elsewhere. Still, it’s a deep group. Adding somebody like Durham behind Cole Kmet would give them solid depth with versatility.