Ryan Poles has done a surprisingly good job of avoiding cameras during the pre-draft process, especially during the pro day circuit. Various scouts and coaches have popped up here and there, but not Poles. That finally changed on Tuesday. The Chicago Bears GM was spotted down in Texas for the Longhorns pro day. It shouldn't be a huge surprise. The program is expected to see up to 14 players draft in this cycle, including four possible 1st rounders. One has to imagine Poles wants to see them up close.
There are plenty of notable names he might be there to see. Left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. is the most obvious. He could be in play at the 10th overall pick. The same goes for speedy wide receiver Matthew Golden and cornerback Jahdae Barron. However, there was an interesting twist to this visit. Poles wasn't alone. He had company in the form of running backs coach Eric Bieniemy. This immediately indicates the Bears may have eyes for Jaydon Blue, Texas' speedy back.
Ryan Poles might be looking for a D'Andre Swift replacement.
That was already becoming realistic after it surfaced that the Bears were meeting with SMU's Brashard Smith, another explosive back. Blue is built in that same mold. Though undersized at 196 lbs, he has blistering 4.38 speed (he reportedly hit 4.29 during the pro day). His lack of strength at breaking tackles and average vision make him an unlikely full-time workhorse, but he's lethal in open space and as a pass-catcher. That is basically what Swift is. Bieniemy has coached running backs for two decades and played the position himself. He helped guide the Kansas City Chiefs to names like Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco. Finding hidden gems is something he can do, which is why Ryan Poles likely made sure he was at the pro day. They wanted to get a good feel for Blue. No doubt they saw what they needed, one way or another.
