The Chicago Bears might be the most intriguing team heading into the 2024 off-season. They hold the #1 overall pick in the draft and should have at least $60 million in salary cap space. However, that isn’t the end of their benefits. News came down this past week that two members of their coaching staff will serve prominent roles in the East-West Shrine Bowl, one of the biggest pre-draft events of the year. Special teams coordinator Richard Hightower will serve as head coach of the East team, while linebackers coach Dave Borgonzi will be his defensive coordinator.
While not quite on the same level as the Senior Bowl or the scouting combine, the East-West Shrine Bowl has produced plenty of future NFL standouts over the years. Trey Hendrickson, Za’Darius Smith, Zay Flowers, Brock Purdy, Andrew Van Ginkel, and Isiah Pacheco are some of the more notable names to come out of that event in recent years. Former Bears defensive tackle Bilal Nichols did, too. It is a fruitful event to scout for roster help, especially if you have two guys front and center to work with those young men directly.
The Chicago Bears have already exploited this opportunity before.
Former offensive coordinator Luke Getsy was the head coach of the American team at the Senior Bowl last year, providing a similar advantage. That ended up helping the team to secure quarterback Tyson Bagent as an undrafted free agent, Zacch Pickens as a 3rd round pick, Tyrique Stevenson as a 2nd round pick, and Darnell Wright as their 1st round pick. Wright and Stevenson were excellent as rookie starters for them this season. Bagent went 2-2 as a backup, filling in for Justin Fields when he was injured. Don’t think for a second they’re overlooking this opportunity Hightower and Borgonzi present them.
There will be no shortage of intriguing names they’ll oversee leading up to February 1st. Illinois tackle Julian Pearl, Boston College guard Christian Mahogany, Colorado State tight end Dallin Holker, Miami defensive tackle Leonard Taylor, and Kansas State safety Kenny Logan are all receiving legitimate buzz for the upcoming draft. That isn’t counting the list of players on the West roster as well. If Hightower and Borgonzi showcase halfway decent eyes for talent next week, don’t be surprised if the Chicago Bears scoop one or two future contributors for their roster from this event.
Subscribe to the BFR Youtube channel and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
