Who are five players that had a great week at the Senior Bowl, and should have caught the Chicago Bears attention?
The Senior Bowl is always an important part of the evaluation process for General Managers, coaches and more heading into the NFL draft. Now that the 2020 Senior Bowl is in the rearview mirror, who are five players that Chicago Bears fans should look into?
These are the players that separated themselves at their respective position and are of need to the Chicago Bears. What did these players do to improve their stock and how could they help the Bears next season?
5. Ben Bartch, T, St. John’s
Bartch helped his stock as much, if not more than any player during the Senior Bowl process. Of course, coming from St. John’s there was a clear question in mind when he came to Mobile. Could he hang with Division 1 talent and other players who are heading to the NFL?
Too often you see the small school show that he can beat up on lower levels, but when the talent is even, they are exposed. Bartch was not that. He impressed throughout the week, and many saw him as the top tackle of the group this week.
That is worth noting. The Bears are likely to head into the 2020 season with Bobby Massie and Charles Leno penciled into starting spots. However, we learned this year that they need depth on the line and a potential starter for the future.
Bartch would not be thrust right into the NFL action, which would be a huge transition. Still, his upside could be a strong depth option or future starter. He also is projected to be a middle-round pick. While he elevated his stock, a bad week in Mobile could have pushed him to the sixth round or lower. He can be trusted in the middle rounds.
He could be in a range where the Bears would be comfortable drafting depth. Bartch is a name to keep an eye on.
4. Anthony Gordon, QB, Washington St.
If there is a quarterback in Mobile that Bears fans need to get to know, it is Gordon. To start, Justin Herbert cemented that he will be a top half of the first-round pick. Jordan Love got mixed reviews, but all indications are he will be gone by the Bears pick, which may be a good thing.
Shea Patterson and Steven Montez showed that they are not players with starter upside, while Jalen Hurts had a really rough week as well. Many will like the mobility and demeanor that Hurts brings, but if he showed anything this week, it is that as a processor, he is not going to be an NFL starter.
That leaves us with Gordon. Gordon showed some physical limitations this week, but there is no doubt he flashed more anticipation and understanding than Hurts. He comes from the same system that developed Garnder Minshew, which values quick accuracy, and Gordon flashed that as well.
Gordon does not flash physically and has one year of starting experience, so he will be around when the Bears pick. Of the six quarterbacks that performed this week, Gordon is the one.
3. Josh Uche, LB, Michigan
The question surrounding Uche heading into the Senior Bowl was what exactly is he? He was an outside linebacker or edge defender for Michigan. However, he is a bit undersized for the NFL to be a full-time edge.
So, is he a blitzing linebacker? Is he a tweeter, or is he versatile? That was the question, and we got a bit of an answer. Uche played off of the football during the week and flashed in coverage against tight ends.
https://twitter.com/PFF_College/status/1220074814313914368?s=20
He also had multiple sacks in the game blaring off of the edge with speed. Uche showed us this week that he may not be a full-time edge or a full-time linebacker, but his versatility helps.
Uche is a player Bears fans can look into because Leonard Floyd is due an extension and Danny Trevathan maybe let go.
Next year, Uche and Floyd can play together and mesh well. They can interchange blitzing and off-ball duties and Floyd has length and size, while Uche has power and speed. Uche could replace Trevathan, he could cut into the need for Floyd and allow Floyd to play off of the ball more.
He also could be depth at both positions. His versatility and ability to defend tight ends and rush the passer has to be noted as valuable in today’s NFL. The Bears should take notice with a couple of versatile defenders on the roster already.
2. Adam Trautman, TE, Dayton
There is no denying that the Chicago Bears need a tight end. With that in mind, all eyes were going to be on that position this week. Bears fans may not want to hear it, but the player who stood out from the group the most was a small school tight end named Adam.
Adam Trautman is a bit different from Adam Shaheen, going all the way to their background. Trautman was not a former football player but was rather a blocking tight end who improved as a pass-catcher through his college career.
Now, he enters the NFL draft as one of the more complete tight ends in the entire NFL draft.
Like Bartch, Trautman needed to prove that the leap in the competition was not an issue. Trautman flashed as a route runner, plucking balls out of the air, and blocking. He belonged.
All of a sudden the question now is whether Trautman will be there for the Bears at pick 43 and if so, should they make the pick then and there. Not many made more money this week than Ada, Trautman.
1. Damien Lewis, G, LSU
Coming straight from the National Championship, it would have been understandable if Lewis dropped out, or did not have a dominant week. The exact opposite happened for the big guard from LSU.
Lewis was a player we highlighted before the week and he did not disappoint. Lewis was one of the most violent blockers there throughout the week and proved that SEC speed is different than what others have seen.
Lewis flashed in the game as well, getting to the second level, and mowing down defenders in his way.
Lewis is a mauler and a road grader and played right guard at LSU and during the Senior Bowl, He is a great fit for the Chicago Bears and has the potential to start right away.
Lewis boosted his draft stock a lot this week. He may have solidified a floor of pick 43, as the Chicago Bears would be hard-pressed to pass on a physical presence at right guard in round two.
Keep an eye on Damien Lewis.