Former GM Warns How Nuts Chicago Bears Buzz May Get At Combine

The Chicago Bears have never been the belle of the ball when it comes to the scouting combine. They're always hovering in the background while other teams get the spotlight. That changes this weekend when all 32 teams descend on Indianapolis. Chicago holds the #1 overall pick in the draft and has the power to chart the course for everything that follows. Nobody knows for sure what GM Ryan Poles will do. He's kept his intentions unsurprisingly vague. Adam Schefter shed some light on things with a Monday bombshell, stating the Bears were indeed leaning towards trading the pick.

That is where the combine comes at such an opportune moment. Former Jets and Dolphins GM Mike Tannenbaum explained to Courtney Cronin of ESPN how significant the proximity of every team in that building could be. Conversations inevitably happen. While it is unlikely a deal gets formally struck, he believes teams will hover around Poles trying to gauge his intentions. He knows from experience.

"It was super informal," Tannenbaum said. "I would pop in and out of other teams' suites [at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, where combine workouts took place]. That year, Detroit had the No. 1 pick, and they weren't budging off [Matthew] Stafford. You really want to start getting a sense of the landscape where, OK, we're at 17, what's realistic? How high can we go?"

Another former GM, Randy Mueller, echoed these sentiments.

He stated that Poles would be too focused on evaluating the players during the event to get into serious conversations. However, he will be able to send and receive signals.

"That time period can be used as a tool for GMs to send messages or shots across the bow," Mueller said of the combine. "But the actual conversations, really the meat and potatoes of it, probably happened already and then they'll conclude after."

The Chicago Bears will likely know where they stand next week.

Schefter even suggested there is an outside possibility a deal would come together this weekend. That suggests Poles is deep into this process already. History says the more likely outcome is the Bears wait until after the start of free agency. By then, teams will know the quarterback landscape. On the other hand, it's the #1 overall pick. Any team trading for it will know they'll have their choice of any QB they want. They don't have to wonder what other teams may or may not do. If they are sold on one of these prospects, make the deal now.

Either way, the point is made clear. The noise around the Chicago Bears figures to intensify by several factors. It could get crazy. All of this is on top of watching the best players in the country go through their drills. Poles won't have much time for sleep. People will be demanding his attention at every turn. Hopefully, he won't be overwhelmed by it. Former colleagues aren't concerned. They've said on several occasions the Bears GM was made for moments like this. His cool-headedness is crucial to what comes next.