Bears Control Combine Spotlight

The scouting combine is always a conflagration.

At any moment, a spark ignites and unchecked reporting or rumor take over the moment.

It started Monday very early with the Adam Schefter report about the Bears fielding trade offers and planning to move down off the first pick in the draft.

The story trashed the other rumors of last week about Fields being traded. You're not trading your quarterback and a fan favorite if he has had only two years to prove himself with two bad teams, anyway, and it's about time someone realized it.

So they'll no doubt wait for something like giving up on Fields until next year and one of those spreading unsubstantiated rumors didn't mind jumping on this right away.

Colin Cowherd said on his show Monday he saw the Bears going after USC's Caleb Williams next year.

It makes a lot more sense than what he originally spouted about Fields being traded this year, but the Bears QB has a full year to convince everyone in his third season he can get the job done, just like Mitchell Trubisky had the all-important Year 3. Maybe it works, perhaps like with Fields it doesn't, but trading down could get the Bears picks needed to actually draft the best QB next year, although they'd rather not.

Meanwhile, the jumping, the running and the three-coning will begin on Thursday after teams start interviewing players.

Here is the television schedule for the workouts:

Thursday March 2, 2 p.m. DL, LBs NFL Network/fuboTV

Friday March 3, DBs, Special teams, 2 p.m. NFL Network/fuboTV

Saturday March 4, noon, QBs, WRs, TEs, NFL Network/fuboTV

Sunday, March 5, OL, noon, RBs, OL, NFL Network/fuboTV

Who's Working Out

It's already known defensive tackle Jalen Carter won't participate in the workouts and will test March 15 at a pro day. The other top defensive lineman, Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson Jr., will take part in some drills, although which ones haven't been specified.

Alabama edge Will Anderson Jr., one of the top prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft, plans to participate in at least some on-field work here at the scouting combine, per source. He’s in the LB group, which works out Thursday.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 27, 2023

The other big controversy is quarterback Bryce Young's actual height. ESPN's Todd McShay tweeted it is 5-foot-10 1/2 but there has been no official height posted by the league at this point.

This can make a difference to the Bears if teams back off Young due to his lack of stature. His weight will be another factor. There have been varying reports throughout the college season from 170 to 185 pounds, so exact poundage will be significant.

Update: Alabama QB Bryce Young's real height is 5'10½, according to ESPN's Todd McShay.

“If I’m a GM, I’m scared to death of drafting him.” said McShay.https://t.co/IX0Jf0GLXP pic.twitter.com/jcz1ZAlf9G
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) February 27, 2023

There is a report out that Bryce Young measured 5’10 1/2”. That is an estimate by the tweeter. The QB’s don’t weigh and measure until Saturday morning in Indy right before they workout. Someone likes to spread BS!
— Greg Gabriel (@ggabefootball) February 27, 2023

The wildfire that is always the 40-yard dash already has writers speculating and drooling over who will run fastest.

Anyone from Texas A&M running back Devon Achane to TCU wide receiver Darius Davis to the two Cincininati receivers, Tyler Scott and Trey Tucker, have been championed by different writers as potential speed demons.

Speculation Trey Palmer of Nebraska will run in the 4.2s is out there.

Tennessee's Jalin Hyatt is another popular name to burn the track, much like Velus Jones Jr. did last year before being selected by the Bears. But Hyatt is a much more polished receiver and isn't 25 years old. He's 21.

Pay close attention to vertical leap by defensive backs and receivers. The Bears can use both. It's said TCU receiver Quentin Johnston can do a 42-inch vertical, and at 6-4 this is impressive.

Less impressive on measurables but definitely not in production is receiver Ohio State receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, identified by Fields himself as someone he'd like to play with again.

Hiding Their True Intent

Players get interviewed by media starting Wednesday and coaches and GMs begin to create subterfuge with their interviews so as to throw everyone off come Tuesday at 9 a.m.

That's when Bears GM Ryan Poles talks to media, with coach Matt Eberflus to follow at 11.

Expect them to speak a lot and say nothing.

It's the time of year when rumors and "reports" rule, but once the athletes have some real numbers attached to their names in workouts there will at least be facts involved in this manhunt.

Twitter: BearDigest@BearsOnMaven