Chicago Bears Are Keeping Close Watch On Top Draft Prospect

The Chicago Bears are two games away from launching into full preparations for the 2023 off-season. It's an important one. GM Ryan Poles spent 2022 tearing down the roster, removing older players and bloating contracts. Now he must start assembling a talented array of young players to build a winner. It will be fascinating to see who they target in the upcoming draft. Rumors are already flying about who they might covet in the 1st round. However, it takes more than that to construct a good team. Later picks will also matter.

That is why Bears scouts continue scouring the country for possible hidden gems. One name that appears to have fans inside Halas Hall is Jack Campbell. According to a source, the team has kept a close eye on the Iowa linebacker in recent weeks as his season winds down. It isn't hard to understand the appeal. Head coach Matt Eberflus has said length and athleticism are two things he covets in his players. Campbell is 6'5, making him one of the longest off-the-ball linebackers in the class. His 255 tackles and four interceptions over the past two years also showcase his versatility as a player.

The Chicago Bears can do lots with somebody like Campbell.

Teams will talk about his athleticism all the way up to the draft. It's the primary reason he won't go until at least the 3rd round and probably later. That doesn't mean he is a bad athlete. He moves pretty well for his size. He complements this with good instincts against the run and an excellent feel for zone coverage. It isn't a coincidence he always seems to be around the football. One could call him a bigger version of Jack Sanborn in many ways. Eberflus knows linebackers, so this interest isn't coming from a place of inadequate information. The Bears appear to like what they see.

Whether they end up drafting him is impossible to predict. There are so many variables involved. It comes down to whether he is available in the right place at the right time. If he is there when they go on the clock early in the 4th round, it wouldn't be a surprise if the Chicago Bears took him. Campbell would be a nice addition to their retooling front seven. Keep his name circled once the draft gets going next April. He is exactly the type this regime seems to covet.