Chicago Bears Met With Electric Ballhawk At Tropical Bowl

The Chicago Bears aren’t wasting any precious minutes or seconds. With the season over, they’ve begun their preparations for the 2023 draft. GM Ryan Poles knows how vital this off-season is to the rebuilding efforts of his franchise. Every single acquisition matters, from the #1 overall pick to any undrafted free agents he may sign. That is why looking into prospects, even at the small all-star games, can matter. The Hula Bowl was one such example. The Tropical Bowl is another.

It appears Bears scouts are busy down in Orlando. They already met with Virginia Tech linebacker Dax Hollifield during the weekend. According to Ryan Fowler of The Draft Network, they added another to their list. That is Coastal Carolina cornerback D’Jordan Strong. He’s been a major part of the program’s recent run of success over the past three years. He had five interceptions as a freshman in 2020 and added another in 2022. His 16 passes defended help show a player that often gets his hands on the football.

Strong fits the profile of what the Chicago Bears want.

He is a tough, gritty player that isn’t afraid to play physical. He tackles pretty well and is active around the line of scrimmage. He’ll get in the face of opposing receivers in man coverage but also has that click-and-close ability in zone. His patience and instincts show up often in coverage. Strong always seems to have a keen awareness of where the ball is. Throw in a healthy dose of confidence and swagger, and it’s easy to see why the Bears like him. There is one lingering concern.

Strong is small. He’s 5’11 and listed at 175 lbs. That is both short and thin by NFL standards. There will be valid concerns about whether his body can survive the wear and tear of an entire season. That is probably why he will either be a late round pick or an undrafted free agent. By meeting with him now, the Chicago Bears are laying the groundwork of possibly luring him their way when the recruitment process starts after the draft.