Chicago Bears Reportedly Interested In New Combine Record Holder

One thing we’ve learned about Ryan Poles since he became Chicago Bears GM is he’s always interested in players who exude something special athletically. It is why he offered a hefty contract to Tremaine Edmunds in free agency last year. It is why he felt comfortable drafting Gervon Dexter in the 2nd round despite his limited production as an interior pass rusher. While the scouting combine doesn’t mean everything in the grand scheme of player evaluation, it is often a great indicator of who Poles and the Bears might be looking into.

A perfect example popped up in Indianapolis this weekend when Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy made history by setting the combine 40-yard dash record of 4.21 seconds, breaking the market of 4.22 set by John Ross. Worthy had already posted a time of 4.25 seconds on his first attempt, so you know the run wasn’t a fluke. Aaron Wilson of Click2Houston revealed that six teams met with the receiver formally at the combine. The Bears were indeed among them.

The Chicago Bears’ interest in Worthy is understandable.

Nothing can be more devastating to defensive game plans than somebody with enough speed to rip off a long touchdown. Poles understands this better than most, having watched Tyreek Hill do it for years in Kansas City. Remember, the Bears are set to lose Darnell Mooney to free agency this off-season. He was their designated vertical threat for the past few years. It makes sense Poles would want to replace him with somebody. Ironically, NFL.com draft expert Lance Zierlein compared Worthy to Mooney in his scouting report.

Make no mistake. Worthy isn’t just a guy who can run fast. He has ability on the field. He was a productive weapon for Texas across his three seasons there, amassing 2,755 yards and 26 touchdowns. He also added a punt return touchdown last season. The primary issue the Chicago Bears may have with him is his size. He’s only 5’11 and 165 lbs. That is really thin by NFL standards, making one worry about his susceptibility to injuries. Pole has a track record of preferring players at least 6’0 and 200 lbs at that position.

Yet that kind of speed is super rare, so he might make an exception.