It's hardly a secret the Chicago Bears are keeping close tabs on the tight ends as the NFL draft process begins. Reports indicate they've already met with two prominent names down at the Senior Bowl. One being Purdue's Brycen Hopkins and Vanderbilt's Jared Pinkney. Both are considered on the higher end of the prospects at their position. The Bears are in desperate need of help after a disastrous 2019 where no player managed over 100 yards.
It won't be a surprise when word emerges that they'll have met with others. One of them is already drawing lots of positive attention after just the first day of work. His name is Adam Trautman. A big 6'6 kid out of Drayton, he has some people comparing him to San Francisco 49ers superstar George Kittle. Not only is he an athletic player who can run routes and make spectacular catches, but he's also committed to his craft as a blocker.
Mark Schofield of Pro Football Weekly caught a quote from him that can get any Bears fan excited about his potential.
“I’m just here to put on a show and to get rid of that asterisk regarding the level of competition that is next to my name.”
If that didn’t make you excited about him yet, then this quote that he used to close out his media session might. When talking about his affinity for George Kittle and how he blocks, Trautman stated: “I’ve told scouts that I’d rather put a dude on his back against his will than catch a touchdown. That’s the best feeling as a tight end.”
Chicago Bears could seek Adam Shaheen redemption with Trautman
A lot of people will be deathly afraid of making this sort of pick. They'll just see Trautman as another Adam Shaheen. A big, athletic pass catcher who feasted on lower competition and then made enough good impressions during the pre-draft process to get picked high. Shaheen came out of Ashland that way and the Bears are still paying for that risk they took three years ago. Would GM Ryan Pace really consider going down that same path again with Trautman?
The good news is Trautman has been all about football from the start. Shaheen made a late switch to it after starting college basketball. In two years at Dayton, Trautman delivered over 1,400 yards and 23 touchdowns. He was a team captain as a senior and majored in electrical engineering. So he's clearly intelligent and a leader. Pace loves players like that, especially if they have a huge physical upside. Don't be surprised if word soon leaks that the Bears have interviewed him.
