Category: NFL Combine

Caleb Williams knows Bears would be good situation for him

There’s no better situation for projected No. 1 pick Caleb Williams than the Bears.

The Chicago Bears are sitting with the first overall pick for the second conseuctive year, and all signs point to them using that selection to draft USC star quarterback Caleb Williams.

For all of the rumors that Williams didn’t want to go to Chicago — which he cleared up — the Bears would be a solid landing spot for a No. 1 overall pick.

As far as situations go, Chicago is the best case scenario for Williams. Typically, the team picking first overall was the worst team last year. But the Bears were a couple of blown leads from making the playoffs last season. They have an ascending defense and talent on offense, and Williams acknowledged the potential fit.

“I mean, the Bears were a 7-10 team last year, and that’s pretty good for a team that has the first pick,” Williams said at the NFL Scouting Combine last week. “They’ve got a good defense. They’ve got good players on offense. It’s pretty exciting if you can you go into a situation like that.”

Chicago has a pair of first-round picks after trading the top selection a year ago — Carolina’s No. 1 selection and their own No. 9 pick. So the Bears can use that second top-10 selection to further build around a potential franchise player in Williams.

Not to mention, for someone like Williams who’s looking to make a lasting impression on the league, going to Chicago and winning a championship — while breaking the franchise’s quarterback curse — would be the perfect way to accomplish just that.

2024 NFL Mock Draft: Full 7-round post-NFL Combine predictions for the Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles are retooling and we’ve unveiled are fourth Eagles Wire 2024 NFL Mock draft of the offseason and after the scouting combine

The 2024 NFL Scouting Combine is a wrap, and the results could significantly impact what happens when the 2024 NFL Draft rolls around at the end of next month.

Like every team in the league, the Philadelphia Eagles closely watched this week’s action at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis as they lock in their draft board.

Philadelphia currently set to have six selections in this year’s draft, and are also projected to receive four compensatory selections, which would give them ten altogether.

Here’s an updated look at how all seven rounds could turn out for the Eagles via the PFF Mock Draft simulator.

6 standouts from OL workouts at 2024 NFL Scouting Combine

Offensive linemen were in the spotlight on the last day of workouts at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine.

Testing offensive linemen at the NFL Scouting Combine can often feel like a silly exercise. How much does it actually matter if a team’s guard can run 40 yards in 4.9 seconds instead of 5.1?

But there’s also little doubt that the athleticism of NFL offensive linemen has continued to progress over the decades. It’s not a coincidence that Trent Williams has parlayed the freakish combo of size, speed, and strength that he showed off at the 2010 combine into 11 Pro Bowls.

With Jacksonville Jaguars offensive line coach Phil Rauscher on the field for drills, the next generation of linemen worked out at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday.

Here are the six players who stood out most on the final day of workouts:

Bears GM Ryan Poles sees similarities between Patrick Mahomes, Caleb Williams

Bears GM Ryan Poles sees the similarities between Patrick Mahomes and Caleb Williams as “artists” as quarterbacks.

Patrick Mahomes is always going to haunt the Chicago Bears organization. They passed on him in favor of Mitchell Trubisky during the 2017 NFL Draft. As you know, Trubisky was one of the biggest busts in Bears history while Mahomes is putting together a Hall-of-Fame resume that could lead to him being considered the greatest of all time.

Here we are again in 2024, and the Bears are still looking to get it right at that position. They have the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, so they’re faced with a franchise-altering decision: keep Justin Fields and trade the pick or draft USC stud Caleb Williams.

General manager Ryan Poles, who was with the Kansas City Chiefs when they drafted Mahomes was asked about Williams at the NFL Scouting Combine. Poles admitted he did notice some similarities between Williams and Mahomes, which should be music to the ears of Chicago Bears fans.

“There’s pieces that are similar,” Poles told reporters this week. “Obviously, the one stands out to everyone is just different arm angles. That’s a unique trait, not a lot of guys can do that.”

We have seen Mahomes do whatever he needs to do to win. He can be a gamebreaker or he can be a game manager. Whatever the Kansas City Chiefs need from him, he can do it. If Williams has a similar way of delivering the football as Mahomes, he could be something special.

Poles pointed to co-director of player personnel Jeff King for helping him categorize quarterbacks in two different categories.

“There’s artists, and there there’s surgeons,” Poles said, noting guys like Mahomes and Williams are artists because of their creativity (surgeons are guys like Tom Brady and Peyton Manning).

“That’s where they’re similar,” Poles said of Mahomes and Williams.

For what it’s worth, Williams believes he’s both artist and surgeon — depending on the situation.

“I like to think that when it’s time to be surgical, it’s time to be surgical,” Williams told reporters this week. There’s been many games where it gets late in the game and I’ve ran or scrambled and threw a crazy pass. That’s being the artist, the magician. And there’s been times where even I hurt my hamstring and couldn’t run, I sat in the pocket the whole time the rest of the game and delivered the ball.”

We have seen this part of Mahomes’ game lead to multiple Super Bowl-winning runs. If being an artist is what they have in common, Bears fans have a lot to look forward to if Williams can translate it to the NFL.

Detroit Lions Podcast: Bish and Brown: Scouting Combine Day 1 and Day 2 reaction

Scott Bischoff and Russell Brown break down the first two days of the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine from a Lions perspective on the Detroit Lions Podcast

Join Russell Brown and Scott Bischoff as they’re back for another episode of Bish and Brown for the Detroit Lions Podcast! On this episode, the guys discuss the following:

  • Player Fit at Pick 29: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
  • Reactions from day 1 and day 2 of the Scouting Combine
  • Prospect of the Week | Powered by Restore

All that and more right here on the Detroit Lions Podcast! Be sure to rate, review and subscribe to the Detroit Lions Podcast on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your favorite shows!

Kam Kinchens talks possibility of replacing Eddie Jackson with Bears

The Bears are in the market for a new starting safety after Eddie Jackson’s release. Could his replacement be his mentee, Kam Kinchens?

The Chicago Bears are in the market for a new starting safety following Eddie Jackson’s release earlier this offseason. Perhaps his replacement will be someone he knows well.

Kam Kinchens is among the best safeties in this 2024 draft class, and he was mentored by Jackson, as both played football in South Florida. As Jackson established himself as a Pro Bowl safety with the Bears, he crossed paths with Kinchens, who was getting his start at Miami.

“I know him personally,” Kinchens said of Jackson, via NBC Sports Chicago. “He used to train back down in Miami.”

When asked about the possibility of replacing his friend in Chicago, Kinchens said he’d call Jackson and pick his brain about making the transition to the pros.

“Ask him all the details,” Kinchens said. “Find the loop holes to the NFL.”

Kinchens has shown great instincts, ball skills and versatility that would allow him to excel in Matt Eberflus’ defense.

“I think my instincts. I think my aggressiveness,” Kinchens said about his best attributes. “I’m gonna have to learn how to control so I won’t be taking too many risks. But learning how to take risks and elevate – no bad plays. Just have those good to average plays and then you have those flash great plays.”

C.J. Gardner-Johnson linked back to the Eagles in free agency

Lions DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson linked back to the Eagles in free agency from the NFL Scouting Combine

C.J. Gardner-Johnson is one of several free agents from the Detroit Lions about to hit the open market. At least one source doesn’t believe “Ceedy Duce” is returning to Detroit and went on the record from the NFL Scouting Combine to link the versatile defensive back to another team.

From Tony Pauline at Sportskeeda,

The Philadelphia Eagles will look to bring in a safety in the offseason, via free agency or the draft. People at the combine get the sense that there’s a real chance the Eagles bring back C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who is scheduled to hit the free-agent market. Gardner-Johnson played for the Eagles in 2022 before signing a one-year deal with the Detroit Lions last year.

From the Lions side of the equation, there’s reason to increasingly believe he won’t be back in Detroit after one season. Gardner-Johnson missed 14 games with a pectoral tear, the third season in a row — all on different teams — where he missed at least five games with separate injuries. The Lions are set at the position where “CJGJ” is at his best, slot defender, with dynamic 2023 second-rounder Brian Branch.

JC Latham says it would be a ‘dream’ to block for Aaron Rodgers

JC Latham says it would be a ‘dream’ to block for Aaron Rodgers

Alabama offensive tackle JC Latham will be in play to be the Jets’ selection at No. 10. If he is, a dream wild come true for the former Crimson Tide player: blocking for one Aaron Rodgers.

Latham lived in Wisconsin at one point in his life when he was younger and said he grew up watching Rodgers during that time while Rodgers was with the Green Bay Packers.

Various big boards have Latham among the top 25 and even the top 15 overall in this upcoming class. Latham is among a slew of tackles that would be of interest to the Jets, who Latham said he had a good meeting with in Indianapolis.

Latham, listed 6-6 and 360 pounds, started 25 games at right tackle for the Tide. He could be a plug-and-play option for the Jets there but Latham also wants to show teams he can play left tackle as well. The Jets need to replace both tackle positions this offseason as well as the left guard position.

Todd Downing attends, coaches drills during Saturday’s Combine session

Todd Downing attends, coaches drills during Saturday’s Combine session

Jets passing game coordinator Todd Downing was in attendance and did a little coaching during Saturday’s on-field drills for quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers at the Scouting Combine.

Downing served as the “main voice” in the quarterback room last season and will continue to have a hand in the position now that Rob Calabrese has joined the Los Angeles Rams.

Wide receiver is a big need for the Jets but there’s also a chance they draft a quarterback late. For now, the only quarterback under contract for the 2025 season is Aaron Rodgers. Zach Wilson is expected to be traded this offseason.

Saturday’s action was highlighted by the quarterbacks throwing, including Michael Penix of Washington, Bo Nix of Oregon and J.J. McCarthy of national champion Michigan.

The biggest highlight came from Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy as he broke the record for the fastest recorded 40-yard dash at the Combine at 4.21 seconds. The previous record was 4.22 by wide receiver John Ross.

10 takeaways from the top RB, WR, and QB performances at 2024 NFL Combine

We’re looking at ten takeaways from the top running back, wide receiver and quarterback performances at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine

Saturday marked the third day of on-field events and the fourth day of prospect press conferences at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine.

Running backs, quarterbacks, and wide receivers worked out while offensive linemen stepped up to the podiums ahead of Sunday’s final day.

Former Texas Longhorns wide receiver Xavier Worthy won the day, setting an NFL combine record with a 4.21 40-yard dash.

Here are the top takeaways from Saturday night’s outstanding showing.