Fun day watching the Combine. I think the Bears have to be loving the way today shook out. While you always expect talented athletes to excel in a controlled environment like the Combine, but even still, the QBs at the Combine really showed out today.
Bryce Young did not participate, but we was measured at 5’ 10 1/8" and 204 lbs. The weight is up about 20 pounds from what he was listed at in college. Some people were suggesting he might measure just over 5’ 11" and that certainly didn’t happen, but at least he got into 2 digits in the inches column. He will likely throw and run at his Pro Day.
CJ Stroud was damn near perfect. I predict that he will leapfrog Young as the #1 QB on several analysts’ boards following this showing. I also think he’ll be the #1 overall prospect on multiple team’s boards based on his measurables and his throwing performance. I think Young sitting it out will hurt his stock, but then again, him standing next to Stroud, Levis and Richardson and throwing probably wouldn’t have been great for him either. Fortunately for him his game tape is great.
Will Levis and Anthony Richardson were both INSANE. Richardson probably has the best measurables of any QB ever. Levis uncorked a 59 mph throw, only to be one-upped by Richardson’s 60 mph throw. Josh Allen holds the record of 62 mpg. But that’s not really a super important stat, what matters is how they deliver the ball and both guys looked effortless and accurate. Levis was probably the best thrower, Richardson second best and Stroud a close third. Each guy was close to flawless on deep balls and sluggos, 3 pure throwers. It was so obvious that they are on a completely different level than everyone else.
We shall see what happens once the hype settles, but all 4 of these guys look like candidates for the 1st overall pick. Richardson has the weakest resume in terms of production, but he makes up for it in spades when you look at his upside. Levis and Stroud are just prototypical studs. I know we probably say this almost every year, but we could have the top 4 picks be QBs.
What does this mean for the Bears? Tough to say. Certainly, having a lot of elite talent at the top is great if you have the 1st overall pick. Best case is that the Texans fall in love with one guy, probably Young, and trade up. Then there’s a feeding frenzy for teams outside the top 5 to move up to 2 allowing the Bears to move back twice. A similar situation could play out if the Colts trade up to 1 and the Bears are sitting there at 4 with only one of the top guys left of the board.
Alternative theory of the case, if you’re iffy on Young’s size and you think that either of Stroud, Levis or Richardson are interchangible prospects, you probably prefer to sit back and take what’s left. I find this idea difficult to believe, even if you really like all those guys, if you’re a GM you really want to control your fate. Taking leftovers just isn’t how the game works. These GMs are watching every snap, taking interviews, putting them on the whiteboard, scouring the campuses for stories…they WILL have a stack ranked list and they probably will fall in love with a guy. Gonna be tough to be sitting there chewing your nails on draft day wondering if someone else sees what you see. More guys showing out means more possibilities for a GM to get smitten.
In other news, this WR class looks like utter trash. I’m sure a few guys will be special once they hit the league, but right now this just looks like a mush of guys with no one really standing out. There isn’t a physical freak in the group. There isn’t a guy that has an ironclad pedigree from a top program. This isn’t great for the Bears who desperately need to find some pass catchers on day two. The TEs actually look a lot more exciting.
Tomorrow we get to watch the OLs which will be must-see TV for any Bears fan.
Last thought, it’s kind of wild seeing 3 different Illini DBs at the Combine showing up at or near the top of a number of different lists. Speaks well of the job Bielema has done in his short tenure, also scary to think what will become of their defense in 2023.