The 2024 NFL Scouting Combine rolls on Saturday with quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers taking the turf at Lucas Oil Stadium for on-field drills. Many players will not be participating in full force, but for the Chicago Bears, the day provides an excellent opportunity to find players who can bring new life to a revamped offense.
Much of the focus surrounding both the day and the Chicago Bears will be the quarterback position and, more specifically, assumed first-overall pick Caleb Williams. The Bears will decide what to do in due time, but they should also spend time scouting deeper quarterback prospects in the hope of finding a more dependable backup moving forward. Additionally, the team will likely consider drafting one of the draft's top receivers, while also looking for rotational offensive playmakers across the board. That said, here are seven prospects from Saturday's combine sessions that could help the Chicago Bears moving forward:
2 Quarterbacks the Chicago Bears should be watching on Saturday
Caleb Williams - USC
There is nothing to say about Williams that hasn't already been said - the 2022 Heisman winner totaled 93 touchdowns to just 10 interceptions over the past two seasons and is in prime position to be the first overall selection come late April. The only question is whether or not the Bears will keep the pick, but it seems more and more likely by the day.
The Bears will certainly advance their scouting on Williams at the combine, despite the quarterback opting out of the on-field drills and medical exam portions of the weekend. The team can still learn more about the quarterback based on their interview and how Williams handles the event and the press in general but rest assured Ryan Poles and company are keeping a close eye on the former Trojan this weekend.
Sam Hartman - Notre Dame
Hartman brings a lot to the table as a potential backup at the NFL level. A three-year starter, Hartman totaled an impressive 134 touchdowns and over 15,000 passing yards between his time at Wake Forest and, more recently, Notre Dame. In his final two seasons, Hartman held a 3:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio or better, an impressive feat of efficiency and accuracy.
Hartman's experience as a collegiate starter is a coveted trait nowadays, just look at Brock Purdy. Whether or not the Bears add a quarterback at the top of the draft, Hartman could be a fun player to bring in as a backup. Ideally, an NFL backup can keep your team at or above .500 during his time as a starter, and Hartman's college resume indicates that he could succeed in spot starts.
2 Running Backs the Chicago Bears should be watching on Saturday
Braelon Allen - Wisconsin
There is perhaps no other player testing on Saturday who is as freakishly athletic as Allen. At 6'2", 240 lbs, Allen is a large, physical, punishing rusher who possesses terrific speed and agility. At Wisconsin, Allen averaged nearly 6 yards per carry, cumulating in nearly 3,500 rushing yards and 35 touchdowns in three seasons.
If selected by the Bears, Allen would likely not serve as the bell-cow-type back as he did in college. Rather, the 20-year-old would join the running back rotation, potentially as the main replacement for D'Onta Foreman, who will likely not be resigned this offseason. Allen still needs to improve, mainly as a pass catcher, to become a reliable, four-down back in the NFL, but there is a lot to like as a potential day-two pick.
Isaac Guerendo - Louisville
Guerendo can potentially make a name for himself as the fastest running back at this year's combine, but his upside goes beyond his incredible speed. Guerendo started his career at Wisconsin, actually serving as Allen's main backup for two seasons, before joining Louisville in 2023. There, the back enjoyed a career season, totaling over 1,000 all-purpose yards and 11 touchdowns on nearly seven yards per touch.
Guerendo has the up-side to become a dangerous change-of-pace player at the NFL level. With incendiary speed, the back is capable of taking any touch to the house, and he is a reliable player in both the rushing and passing attack. At 6'0", 220 lbs, Guerendo still has some size to him, and if he can put it all together, he could do a lot for an NFL offense.
3 Wide Receivers the Chicago Bears should be watching on Saturday
Malik Nabers - LSU
Nabers is a superstar in a star-studded wide receiver class, and the only concern for the Bears is that the LSU phenom may be gone by their second selection, assuming the team selects Williams first overall. Pairing Williams with Nabers, who hauled in over 1,500 yards and 14 touchdowns last season, would be a great recipe for long-term offensive success in Chicago.
Nabers was one vote away from winning the Biletnikoff award a season ago, and he had a good case. Listed at 6'0", 200 lbs, Nabers threatens every layer of the opposing defense, and could quickly become a franchise cornerstone-level receiver in the NFL. Drawing comparisons from fellow Tiger receiver Ja'Marr Chase, the NFL world seems to be extremely high on Nabers, so if he somehow falls in the Bears' lap, it should be a pretty straightforward decision.
Rome Odunze - Washington
Odunze might be the most well-rounded receiver in this class in terms of a height/weight/speed aspect, but his production in college solidifies his status as a bona fide playmaker. At 6'3", 215 lbs, Odunze possesses the frame of a number one, jump ball receiver. Odunze had a career year a season ago to the tune of 1,640 yards and 13 touchdowns, marking his second consecutive campaign eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark.
Odunze's dominance last year was a big catalyst in the Huskie's National Championship game run, and with an impressive resume already under his belt, there seems to be no limit to what the receiver could do in the NFL. Like Nabers, Odunze is jockeying for draft position with the top five to top ten range, so the Bears might have to be aggressive if they want to land the Washington star.
Johnny Wilson - FSU
Wilson is a player built for the combine, almost literally. Listed as tall as 6'7" and as heavy as 235 lbs, it will be interesting to see how the receiver measures physically, as well as how he performs in athletic testing. Allegedly, Wilson possesses 4.40 speed, which mixed with size, makes him an incredibly interesting option, especially in Shane Waldron's offense.
Wilson isn't quite the prospect of Waldron's past receiver in D.K. Metcalf, but there are enough similarities, especially as deep ball threats, that make the Florida State product a desirable NFL weapon (over his final two seasons, Wilson accumulated seven touchdowns and averaged 18 yards per reception). The Bears currently don't have a big-time, boundary receiver outside of D.J. Moore, who is arguably more effective from the slot. If the Bears pass on receiver early, Wilson could be an intriguing day two or three targets that could help fill out the team's pass-catching group.