One thing we’ve learned about Ryan Poles since he became the Chicago Bears’ general manager is that he’s always looking for athletes who have something special athletically. This is why he offered Tremaine Edmunds a large contract in free agency last year. It’s why, despite Gervon Dexter’s limited production as an inside pass rusher, he felt confident in picking him in the second round. While the scouting combine does not mean everything in terms of player evaluation, it is frequently a good indicator of who Poles and the Bears should be looking into.
A classic example occurred in Indianapolis this weekend, when Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy set the combine 40-yard dash record of 4.21 seconds, beating John Ross’s previous record of 4.22. Worthy had already run 4.25 seconds on his first effort, so this wasn’t a fluke. According to Aaron Wilson of Click2Houston, six organizations held formal meetings with the receiver during the combine. The Bears were definitely among them.
The Chicago Bears’ interest in Worthy is understandable.
Nothing is more destructive to defensive game plans than someone with the speed to score a long touchdown. Poles understands this better than anyone, having witnessed Tyreek Hill do it for years in Kansas City. Remember, the Bears will lose Darnell Mooney to free agency this offseason. He has been their designated vertical threat for several years. It makes logical that Poles would want to replace him with someone. Interestingly, NFL.com draft expert Lance Zierlein compared Worthy to Mooney in his scouting report.
Make no mistake. Worthy is more than just a quick runner. He has skill on the field. He was a productive weapon for Texas throughout his three seasons, totaling 2,755 yards and 26 touchdowns. He also had a punt return touchdown last season. The major concern the Chicago Bears may have with him is his size. He’s barely 5’11 and weighs 165 lbs. That is extremely thin by NFL standards, raising concerns about his susceptibility to injury. Pole has a historical record of preferring players that are at least 6’0 and weigh 200 pounds at that position.
However, that kind of speed is quite rare, so he may make an exception.
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