The Bears Are (Basically) Interviewing Every Running Back Prospect in the Greater Indianapolis Area

If you’re a top running back prospect projected to be selected in the middle rounds, odds are you’ve had a meeting with the Chicago Bears’ brass:

Benny Snell confirms that he’s interviewed with the New York Jets and Chicago Bears while at the NFL Combine.

— Josh Moore (@HLpreps) February 28, 2019

Disclaimer: don’t read too much into players meeting with teams at the combine. That said: Wazzu RB James Williams, who had more than 80 catches last year, met with the #Bears.

— Patrick Finley (@patrickfinley) February 28, 2019

Stanford RB Bryce Love says he’s talked with the Bears “a little bit, yea.”

— Mark Grote (@markgrotesports) February 28, 2019

#Bears formal meeting with Miles Sanders went well. He said they put him on the whiteboard and that’s a strength on his

— Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) February 28, 2019

And if you haven’t, well, then just be patient because your time is coming soon.

What’s notable about Benny Snell Jr., Bryce Love, James Williams, and Miles Sanders is that they all figure to be chosen in the middle rounds of the drafts. And that’s hardly a coincidence if you already know that the Bears aren’t scheduled to be on the clock until the third round with Pick No. 87.

Everyone in this handful of prospects put up desirable college numbers, so personal interviews at the Combine could go a long way toward sorting through the group. Frankly, I’m most encouraged by Sanders’ meeting that apparently included time on the whiteboard and that he views his football IQ as a strength. Beyond the measurables, football intelligence should be prioritized in the draft foom

Earlier in the week, GM Ryan Pace estimated the team interviewed 4-5 running backs and also detailed what he was looking for at the position. If you didn’t know any better, you would assume the Bears would be set with the thunder-and-lightning 1-2 punch starring two-time 1,000-yard rusher Jordan Howard and all-purpose do-it-all stud Tarik Cohen. HOWEVER, the Bears have been connected to running back prospects throughout the mock draft season and are believed to have put Howard on the trading block.

Change is coming to a position group that is viewed as a strength, but I suppose the train of thought here is that if you’re not active in trying getting better, then you’re getting worse.