The 2021 Reese’s Senior Bowl came and went, and this event was probably more important than any other Senior Bowl in recent memory.
Without a personal exploration Combining workouts to showcase a player’s skills, the Senior Bowl is the only great opportunity for many players to take a fair and unbiased look at what they offer as draft prospects (and no, Pro Days do not work completely). falls under those criteria).
This year’s game was an entertaining match, and the week of practice that led to it also served as a starting point for several intriguing players.
Although the extent to which they sent staff to Mobile is still unknown, the Bears organization was at the Senior Bowl. Such a development is far from surprising, since an invitation to the game is essentially a guarantee that the player is worthy of a draft choice, or at least a priority of a free agent.
When considering the Senior Bowl prospects the Bears might be considering, keep in mind each player’s position and their potential draft inventory. A player selected as an early first-round pick is likely to be out of reach of Chicago, and a player at, say, edge rusher will also not be a target for them early in the draft.
So, with these things in mind, here are some Senior Bowl players who could be potential targets for the Bears in the 2021 NFL draft.
Mac Jones, QB, Alabama
Like it or not, Mac Jones is a realistic option for the Bears in the first round.
There’s a lot in the air around not only the Bears’ quarterback position, but also the quarterback carousel around the NFL this season. If they enter the concept without a clear appetizer, they can get a signal caller well in advance, and Jones is probably the best option they can get if they stay at number 20 or increase a slight amount.
Jones looked really good at the Senior Bowl. After a slow start to the first day, the national champion was able to pick up steam in the remaining two exercises. He seemed accurate in virtually every area of the field, and he could read quickly and easily in playful situations. He also managed to maneuver the bag under pressure and show ideal footwork and the awareness needed to avoid prospective bag artists.
His arm strength was decent and his overall athleticism was just fine, but he proved nothing that appeared on the band. He was steady and reliable, if not spectacular, and he looked like part of a capable NFL quarterback. For his 2020 band and the improvement of a strong Senior Bowl performance, Jones looks like a lock in the first round that could be very popular in the Bears organization in the off-season.
Dillon Radunz, OT, North Dakota
With the Bears’ striking need to tackle offensive, they’ll be smart to target one of the prospects in the early rounds who competed in the Senior Bowl – more specifically Dillon Radunz.
Radunz only played one game in 2020 because the FCS moved their season to spring, so a big question was whether he would show rest. Luckily for him, that was not the case. He dominated in one-on-one exercises on a consistent basis. His feet were fast, his frame was powerful, his pillows were low and his strikes were accurate. It brought team matches, and those team matches involved the game itself. In an afternoon in which numerous offensive attacks struggled in pass protection, Radunz was a reliable match in the left handle.
Considering how strong his band is, as well as his performance in Senior Bowl week, it would not be surprising if Radunz goes ahead of the Bears’ Round 2 selection, even with his kindergarten status. However, if he falls, he would be a welcome addition to their offensive line.
Amari Rodgers, WR, Clemson
After a disappointing year 3, Anthony Miller could be unpredictable in the near future, leaving the Bears with a potential hole in the lock receiver position.
Amari Rodgers had a breakthrough year for Clemson as their best receiver with the departure of Tee Higgins and the injury of Justyn Ross. He carried the momentum in the Senior Bowl, where he was consistently one of the best receivers. He was explosive from the jump, sharp from his breaks and more polished in his releases than led by his band. Once the actual game came, he was able to serve a solid role for the U.S. team, with four passes for 23 yards and an attack. He was one of the more dynamic athletes in Mobile this week, and he enters the rest of the pre-draft process with a warm hand.
As the Chiefs have shown, there is not too much speed in the wide receiver position. Granted, they also have the best quarterback in the NFL in Patrick Mahomes, but the point remains that, just because you have one quick receiver, that does not mean you should not set up another one. Rodgers in the groove and Mooney as field receiver would be an extremely explosive duo, hopefully flanked by Allen Robinson in the long run on the boundary.
Quinn Meinerz, OG / C, Wisconsin-Whitewater
If you’ve followed the Senior Bowl in any capacity, chances are you’ve not heard of Quinn Meinerz.
As was the case with Radunz, Meinerz did not play a 2020 season, with Division III shifting their season to spring, but he showed little or no rust over the course of the week. He was completely dominant on an instant-by-moment basis. Whether he’s defenders on the point of attack in one-on-one, or they drift in the filth of the team, the Wisconsin – Whitewater standouts physically overwhelmed the opposition with low pads, a strong anchor, powerful hands, a nasty edge, and an exposed bowel. Even after breaking a leg in his hand on Day 3, he fought the rest of the practice and insisted on playing on Saturday, although his coaches eventually denied him the opportunity.
Perhaps Meinerz’s versatility is even more interesting for the Bears. As he has proven in Senior Bowl practices, he is able to not only play guard, but also center. While the Bears want to determine where they want to fit Cody Whitehair and James Daniels along their offensive line, there is another inside line that can play everywhere that can help maximize their two veterans.
James Hudson III, OT, Cincinnati
While the Bears will likely have one in 2021 from Charles Leno Jr. or Bobby Massie will hold – presumably the former – there is a big possibility that both would be gone by 2022 season. In such a case, they could try to double the approach this year if the value is right.
James Hudson III entered Senior Bowl week as an intriguing commodity. His physical gifts were clear, but his technique was still going strong. As a former defensive line in Michigan, Hudson is still pretty raw, but his pure talent was fully evident in Mobile. He looks agile in drills, shows an above-average lateral speed and bursts to neutralize the speed off the edge. He was also able to lock down defenders at the point of attack by using his powerful grip to hold the opposition and stop them in their tracks. In terms of offensive attacks from Senior Bowl, few have strengthened their stock more than Hudson did this week.
With a two-way approach in the 2021 draft, the Bears can secure a day 1 appetizer in one pack position and a player who can develop into an appetizer within a year or so. Hudson would give them a high head player who could serve as a valuable asset in the line.
Richie Grant, S, UCF
As new defense coordinator Sean Desai is likely to use more two-high shells in cover, the Bears need two safety zones that can cover well. Very few, if any, safety areas at the Senior Bowl were as effective in coverage as Richie Grant.
With two interceptions on day 3 of practice, Grant was able to end his week in Mobile with a bang. However, he looked fantastic all week as his fluency in coverage stood out every time he stepped on the field. His ability to change direction makes him a big threat to high, and he could see the quarterback’s eyes and jump on routes to play the ball. Grant was also effective in one-on-one exercises because he was physically with receivers through their stems, and also used his athletics to hang with numerous wide receivers in the coverage of people, something that some safety needs in the course of could do the week.
Grant solidified this week that this is what his band is showing: a safety ball with above-average athleticism with the fluidity and instincts to be a reliable starter on the next level. The Bears have bigger needs in offense, but connecting Grant to Eddie Jackson will give them a big and athletic safety position at the back.