INDIANAPOLIS — Most of the media conversations with Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles and coach Matt Eberflus this week at the NFL scouting combine have revolved around whether they will draft a quarterback with the No. 1 pick this spring.
But the Bears also have several new coaches, multiple roster holes to fill and the No. 9 pick in addition to the top choice.
Along with Poles working on an extension for cornerback Jaylon Johnson, here are four non-quarterback topics the Bears addressed this week at the combine.
1. Eberflus is looking for a complement to Jaquan Brisker in a new starting safety.
The Bears cut seven-year starter Eddie Jackson two weeks ago for $12.6 million in salary-cap savings. They also released veteran offensive lineman Cody Whitehair at the time.
“We felt like it was the right time to give them an opportunity to go test the market to see what’s out there for them,” Poles said. “I wanted to do right by them and do it as early as possible so they can put their plans in place. But I’m really thankful for their leadership and everything they’ve brought to the organization.”
Jackson, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, had 15 interceptions, 44 passes defended and six touchdowns over 100 starts with the Bears. He had grown into an important leader for the defense as strong safety Brisker developed over his first two seasons.
Now the Bears want to find a free safety who pairs well with Brisker, whom Eberflus called “a big hammer.”
“The guy that we would be looking for has to have athletic ability, range, great communication skills, ball skills,” Eberflus said. “We want all of our guys to have the ability to take the ball away. Then eventually grow into a leader.
“If it’s a free agent, he is going to have to feel the temperature of the room and then dive into the leadership role. If he’s a rookie, then he’s going to have to develop that with the other guys.”
2. Eberflus had a ‘real long conversation’ with former Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll about Shane Waldron.
When the Bears were in the process of hiring a new offensive coordinator to replace Luke Getsy, whom they fired, Eberflus had the opportunity to speak with a knowledgeable source about candidate Shane Waldron.
Carroll, whom the Seahawks pushed out after 14 seasons, gave a strong recommendation of Waldron, who was Carroll’s offensive coordinator the last three seasons.
“He just gleamed about Shane and talked about him at length, about his ability to adapt and adjust and what he did with the quarterbacks in Seattle,” Eberflus said. “I was very comfortable moving forward with Shane in that.
“It’s really about his track record. You have his head coach that was with him say those words about him and talk to me at length about it, and me watch(ing) the tape and what he actually did with all those quarterbacks — to me, that’s proof.”
Eberflus has pointed more than once to Waldron’s adaptability and creativity as reasons the Bears are confident in their decision to hire him — no matter who the quarterback is.
The Bears also hired passing game coordinator Thomas Brown and added the run game coordinator title to offensive line coach Chris Morgan. Eberflus said he sat down with Waldron, Brown and Morgan individually and as a group to talk about the cohesion needed to make the offense work under all three coaches. The offense, he said, “is going to be a direct reflection of those three relationships.”
“I just want more continuity and more communication,” Eberflus said.
3. Pass rusher is at the top of the Bears’ list of needs after (likely) a quarterback.
Eberflus started his assessment of what the defense needs next by complimenting his players for sticking together until the end of the season, when the unit showed marked improvement after the acquisition of defensive end Montez Sweat from the Washington Commanders.
“I want to really thank those guys for that because they really hung together and started to really jell,” Eberflus said.
Eberflus said he believes the Bears defense is “close to being a pretty solid group.” But along with locking down Johnson and finding a new safety, the defense has one major need: another pass rusher.
DeMarcus Walker and Dominique Robinson are the current defensive end options besides Sweat, who led the Bears with six sacks despite playing in only nine games for them.
“We’ve got to make sure that we have somebody opposite of Sweat,” Eberflus said. “We can never have enough of those guys because they affect the game the most.”
Eberflus said the Bears also need wide receiver depth behind DJ Moore. No. 2 receiver Darnell Mooney is set to be a free agent.
“Adding some dynamic pieces there through free agency or through the draft potentially,” Eberflus said. “When you have a weapon at tight end (in Cole Kmet) and you have a weapon at the X receiver like DJ, when you add a piece or two to the other side, it really balances you out. It’s hard to defend for sure.”
4. Eberflus lauded new defensive coordinator Eric Washington’s character and track record.
The Bears filled their defensive coordinator opening in late January with Washington, who has worked in the NFL since 2008 with the Bears, Carolina Panthers and Buffalo Bills. He has served as a defensive line coach and coordinator.
“He’s got a great personality, great way about him, great character and just his track record,” Eberflus said. “He’s been a part of some great defenses. He’s obviously been here with the Bears and obviously what he did over in Buffalo with Sean (McDermott) was pretty impressive too. I’m excited about partnering up with him for sure.”
Eberflus announced last week he will retain defensive play-calling duties. Washington said he joined the staff knowing he wouldn’t call plays because he wanted to be a part of a group that is “clearly on an upward trajectory.” But he said he thinks he will call plays again at some point in his career.
Eberflus said it’s something the Bears will evaluate every year.
“At the end of the year you evaluate that, and if that’s the best move for the Bears, we’ll certainly do that,” Eberflus said. “What we’re doing right now is what we think is best for the Bears.”
