3 things we learned at the NFL combine, including the Chicago Bears’ needs on the defensive line

INDIANPOLIS — The Chicago Bears are at the center of the NFL offseason, owners of the No. 1 pick for April’s draft and blessed with close to $100 million in salary cap space when free agency begins in two weeks.

On Tuesday at the NFL scouting combine, general manager Ryan Poles and coach Matt Eberflus each met with the media, offering their assessments on the state of the team and what they hope to get accomplished over the next two months. Poles offered his latest thoughts on starting quarterback Justin Fields and his hopes for maximizing the No. 1 pick. There was also plenty of talk about the Bears’ desire to strike in free agency in mid-March.

Here are three other things we learned Tuesday.

Several teams, including the Los Angeles Rams, Green Bay Packers, Los Angeles Chargers, New Orleans Saints and New England Patriots, opted to leave their coaching staffs home from this week’s combine, with their scouting departments and front office leaders furthering the draft evaluation process.

Eberflus, though, emphasized it was important for him and his assistants to attend, particularly in an offseason where the Bears have so much at stake.

“To make good decisions, you have to have good information,” Eberflus said. “When you’rev eye-to-eye meeting with somebody, to me that’s (important). We all went through COVID with the Zoom. It’s not the same as what we’re doing right now. I think it’s important to be here. This is a big year for us.”

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Bears coaches will participate in interviews with draft prospects throughout this week. Athletic testing and positional drills will take place Thursday through Sunday. Eberflus praised the connection he has had with Poles in setting a vision for the offseason roster-building process. He also stressed the need to determine whether players in free agency and the draft would be good fits for the Bears’ methods and the H.I.T.S. principle specifically.

“It isn’t for everybody,” Eberflus said. “That comes down to the No. 1 thing (for us): the love of football. They have to love the game. How do they show that? It’s what they show on tape.It’s the passion that they have, the compete (level) they have on the field. Then we’ve got to figure out culturally, does he fit as a person, as a teammate?”

To that end, this week’s interviews and observations will be important.

Payne became the first player tagged in 2023 and will be in line to earn $18.9 million next season if he plays on the tag. The Commanders’ move Tuesday, though, subtracted another possible target from the Bears’ free-agent board, leaving Poles and his talent evaluation staff to adjust.

The list of other possible top-tier defensive tackles who could be available in free agency includes Javon Hargrave, David Onyemata, Dre’Mont Jones and Dalvin Tomlinson.

“We will see after these next few days and weeks who is available in free agency and where they fall in our value chart and (on our) board,” Poles said. “And if it’s not there, then maybe that (need) turns to the draft. That’s the beautiful thing about balancing both those things. That’s why we spent so much time evaluating both sides (of free agency and the draft), to see what’s going to be available to us and where we need to attack in both of those areas.”

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It’s no secret the Bears hope to strengthen their defensive front after finishing last in the NFL in sacks (20) and 31st in run defense (157.3 yards per game) in 2022. To that end, Poles listed several traits he will be looking for in edge rushers and interior linemen to aid the defensive regrouping efforts.

“Violence, length, tenacity,” he said. “That’s what we’re looking for. Guys who can get after the quarterback but also play the run and be disruptive.”

Poles offered an update on Eddie Jackson, indicating the seventh-year safety will be with the team when training camp begins. Jackson still has two years left on the extension he signed in January 2020 and is due to make $13 million in base salary next season. He turns 30 in December and missed the final five games of last season after suffering a Lisfranc injury in his left foot. But Poles quieted any speculation the Bears might release Jackson before free agency begins.

“Like everyone else, we’ll get to camp this offseason and see him move around and (continue to) evaluate everyone on a year-to-year basis,” Poles said. “I was excited about the progress that he made (last season). I thought he was heading in the right direction, getting back to the ball with takeaways. I thought he tackled well, too. We’re excited about Eddie.”

Jackson had four interceptions in 12 games last season and was a valuable mentor for rookie Jaquan Brisker. Eberflus stressed that he would love to retain continuity in the secondary with Jackson and Brisker paired with cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon.

“We have some really good pieces back there,” Eberflus said. “And we know if we can get some guys up front in free agency and the draft, that’ll make that job a little bit easier in the back end.”

As for David Montgomery, who is set to become a free agent March 15, Poles has been consistent in lauding the running back’s passion and style, and said he would love to re-sign Montgomery if the price is right. But that’s a wait-and-see scenario.

“My feelings for David haven’t changed,” Poles said. “So we’re going to go through this process and gather information, have conversations and see what happens.”

Montgomery ran for 801 yards last season, added 34 catches for 316 yards and scored six total touchdowns.