The Chicago Bears may have to get a little creative with how they plan to bolster their roster next year. They won't have a lot of high draft choices at their disposal nor much money to spend in free agency. So if GM Ryan Pace wants to bolster his roster he'll need to find them in the bargain bin. That is why the arrival of the XFL, which is slated to begin its first season since 2001 on February 8th after the Super Bowl, could have come at a better time.
The league just concluded its first annual player draft and it features a number of notable names. No former Pro Bowler mind you, but definitely a lot of players with NFL experience who always had a degree of upside that was never realized. This doesn't necessarily mean each and every one of those players were total busts. Sometimes it takes the right opportunity and timing for things to click. There has been plenty of evidence in the past of players who got nowhere in the NFL reigniting their careers in another league.
While that's a bit of a long shot, the Bears would be foolish to not at least pay close attention to what happens with the XFL in the coming months. Here are several names they'd be wise to keep a sharp eye on.
Chicago Bears XFL scouting targets for 2020:
Joe Callahan (QB, Seattle Dragons)
One of the more notorious quarterback names out there. Callahan always seemed to be a favorite of coaches around the NFL because he kept finding work. Maybe that's because they felt he had something. His domination of Division III in college certainly indicates as much. Over his final two years at Wesley, he threw for over 9,000 yards and 101 touchdowns. Typically that happens when a good player faces inferior competition.
Unfortunately, Callahan was coveted by teams that had no open opportunities at quarterback such as Green Bay, New Orleans, and Philadelphia. So he never got a real chance to play. The XFL presents that opportunity for the first time and it will be fascinating to see what he does with it.
Isaiah Battle (OT, Seattle Dragons)
One of the biggest what-ifs among offensive line prospects in recent memory. Isaiah Battle looked like a 1st round pick in waiting looking towards the 2016 draft. Sadly some disciplinary issues at Clemson forced him to declare for the 2015 supplemental draft instead. He ended up with the St. Louis Rams as a 5th round pick but never saw the field. He bounced between practice squads for most of his NFL run going into August of 2019.
The XFL will give him a chance to put actual game action on film for the first time in years. He's always had the talent but hasn't yet found the consistency needed to play on Sundays. Being able to play regular games for a full season in a new league could be just the ticket for him. He's only 26-years old so there's still time to realize some of his potential.
Nico Siragusa (OG, Los Angeles Wildcats)
Expectations were pretty high for Nico Siragusa when the Baltimore Ravens drafted him in the 4th round in 2017. While not the most athletic guard in the world, his impressive power made him a great fit for a team that liked to run the ball. There were plans for him. Then he suffered a catastrophic knee injury that saw him tear the ACL, MCL, and PCL in his knee. He's been trying to work his way back from that injury ever since. Stops in Green Bay and Indianapolis after leaving Baltimore in 2018 didn't yield much.
This move to the XFL is a smart one on his part. He's only in his third year as a professional player. If he can deliver a strong showing in L.A., there are bound to be teams who will look to bring in somebody with his skills.
Jace Amaro (TE, Seattle Dragons)
One of the most puzzling draft busts in recent memory. It really felt like Jace Amaro could become one of the next big pass-catching tight ends in the NFL. That's why the New York Jets drafted him in the 2nd round out of Texas Tech. He was 6'5, ran well and had a strong pair of hands. He had a decent rookie year too with 345 yards and two touchdowns. After that? He vanished. He suffered a torn labrum early in 2015 and missed the season. New York then cut him before the start of 2016.
After that, he made brief stops in Tennessee and Kansas City with little success. So the move to the XFL isn't a surprise. He's still only 27-years old. Teams are always looking for athletic tight ends who can catch. All he has to do is prove he still has that capability in him.
Hau'oli Kikaha (EDGE, Dallas Renegades)
Another thing teams are always looking for? Pass rushers. Right now the Bears have one they are confident in with Khalil Mack. Leonard Floyd? Aaron Lynch? They've been unreliable to start the season. So finding more depth should be on the agenda for Pace. Hau'oli Kikaha is one of those types. He's a hunter. The guy loves to get after the quarterback and was really good at it in college. He continued to show flashes in New Orleans after being drafted, notching eight sacks and four forced fumbles in 27 games.
His problem wasn't talent. It was health. Kikaha missed 21 games between 2015 and 2017. This was a big reason why the Saints waived him before the start of last season and why he had to wait until the XFL got going to get a job. He needs to show teams that his health issues are behind him and that he can still make life miserable for quarterbacks.
John Franklin III (CB, Dallas Renegades)
Defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano likes his cornerbacks long and physical. That is typical for 3-4 defensive systems and the Bears are no different. This is a big reason why the Bears had high hopes for John Franklin III over the past two years. The problem was he was getting started so late. He didn't transition to cornerback until after leaving college, which put a lot of pressure on him to learn a difficult position as rapidly as possible. To his credit he showed some nice progress during the preseason in 2019, but not enough to secure a roster spot.
The XFL comes at a perfect time. It will get him valuable playing experience in live game situations, something that can often be the best teacher for cornerbacks on how to hone their craft. If Franklin continues to progress like he did this past year, then he might be ready to take the next step in the NFL.
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