Justin Fields Vigil Shifts to Combine

Bears offensive coordinator Shane Waldron detailed what the coming week will be about at the NFL Scouting Combine.

The team gains knowledge about players beyond their physical capabilities, but the can find a little about this as well.

"I think getting to know the person, and all these guys, everyone's got a story," Waldron said. "Cool thing about football is everyone has such a unique and different background and what led them, what's their 'why?' How did they get to this point?"

The combine is more than the "underwear Olympics," as it's so often been called.

It's more about the interviews than the running and jumping in workout clothes, but they'll pay attention to this just like with they do with game film of players.

"And so, the tape is obviously their resume in terms of the player," Waldron said. "But what is the person like? How is that person going to be able to adjust and adapt to the next level here? So for me the combine’s that first chance to start to see some people in person, start to get a chance to, in a shorter time span, interview people and putting all the information that Ryan Poles and his staff has gathered in terms of the off-the-field, what the character of the player is and all those things."

The Bears will begin gathering information Tuesday. The positional workouts begin on Thursday, with the quarterbacks putting on their show on the field on Saturday.

Here's a Bears checklist for the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine.

1. Caleb Williams' Height and Interviews

The Saturday throwing almost seems irrelevant for a player like Williams, so it would shock no one when he indicates he won't work out. Why should he when so many consider the top guy?

His participation in the interviews and measuring his height will be important, though.

There have been some listing Williams at 6-foot. Some heights say as tall as 6-2.

It's important for NFL quarterbacks to see over the defense but apparently not so critical to prevent Kyler Murray and Bryce Young from being picked first overall.

The inteviews will be big because of all the concern about Williams crying in his mother's arms after the 52-42 loss last fall to Washington. It triggered a social media storm. Teams want to know what makes Williams tick. They don't get too many quarterbacks who have their fingernails up but don't forget some things Joe Namath did seemed awfully eccentric when he came to the NFL and it didn't keep him from being a historically important passer.

More important for the Bears is determining if Williams could lead a team that was fully behind Justin Fields when last season ended.

2. Quarterback Alternatives

GM Ryan Poles said, much like last year, he needs to be blown away by another quarterback if he's going to trade Fields. What if it's not Williams who blows Poles away with his efforts in Indy, in games and in pro days?

The measurables on Drake Maye are said to be eye-popping for GMs. He might be 6-foot-4 1/2, 230 and he has possibly the stongest arm in the class. If he runs at the combine, he could surprise many who considered him only a pocket passer, because his college film shows he has the ability to scramble for big yards when necessary.

The pro day workouts have become as big or bigger for top quarterbacks in recent years than the combine but Maye and even Jayden Daniels, who is regarded as the best athletic quarterback in this draft, could have a better chance in a format like the combine's workouts to impress GMs than Williams would. In Williams' case, his eye-popping ability can best be seen on tape with off-script plays and big gains. You can't gauge that with a stop watch or tape measure.

3. Closed-Door Meetings

The GMs are all in Indy and it was here where Poles got the ball rolling on last year's trade down.

It's not likely you're going to see Poles and another GM discussing such an important topic as the trade of Justin Fields or trade down from No. 1 over a beer at O'Reilly's or a steak at St. Elmo's.

They're hashing this one out at the hotels in downtown Indy behind closed doors.

4. Wide Receiver 40s and Workouts

Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr., LSU's Malik Nabers and Washington's Rome Odunze are widely recognized as the top three wide receivers and because the Bears have the need for a receiver as well as the first and ninth pick, they could have the opportunity to take one these players pass catchers.

Poised at No. 9, the Bears could find that all three are gone but there are some analysts who see LSU's Brian Thomas Jr. as a close fourth player. The Bears can take a better look at his hands and speed. After all, Thomas only led the nation in TD catches with 17 so he can't be considererd too far off from the top three, but would it be enough for the ninth pick?

The observation of this position will obviously go well beyond this group with the Bears wide receiver group other than DJ Moore so ineffective. If they did go a different direction than receiver at No. 9, they'll want to look close at the next group that includes Williams' USC target Brenden Rice, North Carolina's Devontez Walker and South Carolina's Xavier Legette.

5. Laiatu Latu's Medicals

Players get physicals and their medical past is meticulously studied. Of particular interest for the Bears will be UCLA defensive end Laiatu Latu's situation.

In fall of 2020, Washington coaches said he had suffered a neck injury and doctors determined he should stop playing football. He transferred to UCLA, received clearance to play from doctors for the 2022 season and made 24 sacks over the last two seasons. The Bears will want to know every detail of the remarkable recovery before investing an early Round 1 pick in a player who could have the best pass rush technique in the draft. Latu, Alabama's Dallas Turner and Florida State's Jared Verse are generally regarded as the top three edge rushers if the Bears want to prioritize drafting a counter punch on the edge opposite Montez Sweat.

6. Offensive Line Work for Centers

With former center Cody whitehair gone and Lucas Patrick and Dan Feeney free agents, the Bears will pay particular attention to Jackson Powers-Johnson's speed and agility. Would it be worthwhile taking a center at No. 9? Ryan Poles was an offensive lineman and it's supposed to be his area of expertise.

Considering the level of play they've had at the position the last three years, it might be worth taking him at No. 9 or trading back a few spots and taking him. The Oregon center is considered tops at his position and he had a strong Senior Bowl week.

Center is especially important on short-yardage or goal line plays and the Bears have struggled getting off the line to convert in those situations in recent years.

The bench press and running the 40 are important. With the Bears, the running is always important for linemen because of how much they've used the wide zone blocking scheme. It might change somewhat this year with a new offensive coordinator but either way the agility work during blocking drills and also the three-cone drill can be revealing about line agility.

7. Safety 40 and Pass Catching

After letting go of Eddie Jackson, the Bears need another deep center fielder type for safety. They're obviously not going to be measuring hitting ability at the combine but in addition to the 40 times, the simple ability to come down with passes during the drills at workouts can say plenty for a player. Safeties are not wide receivers but if you can't be go vertical and hang onto passes in the defensive scheme the Bears play then they'd have little use for you. The takeaway is stressed.

Kamren Kinchens of Miami, Tyler Nubin from Minnesota, USC's Calen Bullock, Utah's Sione Vaki and Michigan's Rod Moore are safeties widely viewed as draftable in early rounds. The Bears got Jaquan Brisker in Round 2. It's possible they might look at this position again on the draft's second day.

In 2022, Jackson won the team's first ballhawk award. It was an award Matt Eberflus invented in Indianapolis and brought to Chicago. You can't be a ballhawk with bad hands and the combine can help the Bears gauge this.

2024 NFL Scouting Combine

Workout Schedule

Defensive line, linebackers Thursday, 2 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Defensive backs, tight ends, Friday 2 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Quarterbacks, wide receivers, running backs, Saturday noon to 7:30 p.m.

Offensive line, Sunday noon-3:30 p.m.

Workouts scheduled to be televised live on NFL Network.

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