Matt Eberflus Had Weird Comments About Bears QB Interviews

GM Ryan Poles made it clear again at the scouting combine that the Chicago Bears were moving forward with evaluations on the 2023 draft quarterbacks. Justin Fields remains the starter until further notice. The team loves what he accomplished last season and the plan remains to stick with him. However, the organization has a responsibility to look into every prospect. If one of these quarterbacks happens to make an unforgettable impression, Poles would have to at least consider making a change. Matt Eberflus is no different.

He confirmed on The Rich Eisen Show that the Bears were going through that process. The plans remain unchanged. Where it gets interesting is when specific names were involved. Eisen asked if Bryce Young (Alabama) and C.J. Stroud (Ohio State) would be interviewed. Eberflus didn't hesitate.

"Yes they are. Yep, absolutely."

He explained how the team was focused on measuring their FBI (football intelligence) and getting a sense of each quarterback's mental makeup. Where it gets interesting is when Eisen expanded the question for Will Levis (Kentucky) and Anthony Richardson (Florida). Eberflus, surprisingly, seemed less committal about them.

"I don't know about...they may be. They may be. Again, that's later in the week, but they may be for sure."

Matt Eberflus' comments were weird.

If the Bears likely weren't going to take a quarterback, why would he differentiate his comments between those four names? Maybe the team has a higher opinion of Young and Stroud than they're letting on. Or a lower opinion of Levis and Richardson. Perhaps Eberflus is playing a careful game, using the media to create misdirection about what he or the organization really thinks. By creating the idea that Chicago likes Young and Stroud, it could lead to other teams worrying the Bears might take one of them.

That leads to leverage in trade talks. It is another reminder of how cloak and dagger the NFL off-season really is. Every piece of information matters. The same goes for misinformation. Whatever reason Matt Eberflus had for those comments, it is impossible to ignore them. Nothing about that answer was standard. It was either a clear indication the Bears don't think much of Levis or Richardson, or it was a practiced answer they wanted out in public. Weird either way.