NEWSLETTER
Few teams underwent an offseason overhaul like the Chicago Bears. Sure, the biggest moves came with hiring a new general manager and head coach. But the Bears turned over their roster and brought in waves of new players. And by doing so, the team has created a dozen or so worthwhile camp competitions. We began profiling the most high-profile additions during free agency and after the NFL Draft. With NFL training camps opening later in July, what better time to get to know some more new Bears?
Draft Picks: CB Kyler Gordon (Round 2, Pick 39), S Jaquan Brisker (Round 2, Pick 48), WR Velus Jones Jr. (Round 3, Pick 71), OL Braxton Jones (Round 5, Pick 168), DE Dominique Robinson (Round 5, Pick 174), OL Zachary Thomas (Round 6, Pick 186)
Free Agents: WR Byron Pringle, OL Lucas Patrick
Trestan Ebner (Round 6, Pick 203)
- Position: Running back, return specialist
- College: Baylor
- Height, weight, hand size, arm length: 5-11, 206 pounds, 8 1/2″ hands, 29 3/4″ arms
- Accomplishments: Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year (2020, 2021)
- Position ranking: 31st RB (ESPN)
Highlights
Relative Athletic Score
Relative Athletic Score grades player measurements on a 0-10 scale and compares them to their contemporaries. It is a unique way to give some of these prospects some more depth and perspective.
Three Strengths (From NFL.com’s Draft Profile)
- “Runs, catches and returns both kicks and punts.” … There is some real Swiss Army knife potential with this Day 3 pick.
- “Size to be a load for tacklers when he’s amped up.” … One thing the previous regime had a knack for was unearthing running backs who were hard to bring down on first contact. Can history repeat itself with a new group of evaluators?
- “Top-end speed can take him to the house after the catch.” … Alexa, please play “Take it to the House” by Trick Daddy. Thanks!
Three Weaknesses (From NFL.com’s Draft Profile)
- “Needs technique upgrade to block on third downs in the NFL.” … Considering how that might be important for Ebner to make it in the pros, his position coaches have some work to do.
- “Pace and burst are a little bit listless.” … My concern with speed guys is that they are fast, but have little idea how to harness their speed.
- “Indecisive without a clear point of entry.” … Perhaps increasing tape study at the next level can help him learn where to see holes?
Where He Fits
The Ebener pick gave me some serious Tarik Cohen vibes. To be clear, Cohen is a unicorn. But Ebner could play that jack-of-many-trades role out of the backfield in Chicago where Cohen was thriving before his career-altering knee injury. New play-caller Luke Getsy could get creative with Ebner, which could keep opposing defenders on their heels. Ebner could take hand-offs from out of the backfield, come swooping through on jet sweeps, line up as a receiver in the slot, or catch passes as a running back. Special Teams Coach Richard Hightower could deploy him creatively, too. That type of versatility could prove to be valuable early (and often).
This is a fun little comp:
For those of you who aren’t in tune with the fantasy world, Elijah Mitchell was a sixth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. The Louisiana product began the year as an afterthought in some football circles because he was set to be behind Raheem Mostert and Trey Sermon on the depth chart. Instead, Mitchell led the team in carries (207) and rushing yards (963), while scoring five ground scores (only Deebo Samuel’s 8 were more). Asking Trestan Ebner to be that dude feels large, but it is fun to think about. And the blueprint is there.
It would take some unfortunate happenings ahead of him on the depth chart. Let’s face it. David Montgomery isn’t abdicating his throne (even if he isn’t getting a ton of love league-wide), while Khalil Herbert begins this season as the perfect fantasy handcuff. But this new regime isn’t beholden to Pace-era holdovers. Darrynton Evans is new and a great unknown, but his ceiling feels limited. That leaves Ebner, a Day 3 pick who is at risk of being RB4 and whose rookie status buries him on the depth chart. But the Mitchell comp is there for Ebner to aspire and reach for as a rookie. And frankly, it’s not wholly implausible. That Mitchell comp intrigues me.
