Chicago Bears: 10 viable draft prospects to watch at the combine

The Chicago Bears have much to add on offense, but it’ll be most exciting to watch the defensive guys at this year’s combine.

The Chicago Bears are doing everything right so far this year. They have hired the right head coach in Matt Nagy, followed by all of the appropriate guys to fill in staffing holes. Over the past week, they have begun the second step in the offseason by cutting ties with veterans who do not fit into the direction they are headed.

To date, the Bears have cleared roughly $62 million after announcing the release of a few names. Josh Sitton, Jerrell Freeman, Quintin Demps and Pernell McPhee have all been relieved of their duties in Chicago.

It is believed that in the coming days Mike Glennon will follow them all and put the Bears well into the $75 million range in available space. With free agency approaching, Ryan Pace and company are set to do some major damage.

It looks like Pace has his organization heading for success well into his fourth year on the job. The next course of action begins this week as he and his scouting department evaluate future NFL players at the 2018 combine.

The Bears have a few holes to fill on both sides of the ball, but sitting at the eighth pick overall, their options are endless. Several teams have been rumored to want to move up, with the Buffalo Bills having been one team specifically with a quarterback in mind. Could Pace trade down and acquire additional picks? That’s exactly what many are predicting, given his history.

Pace is a risk-taker come draft time, and I wouldn’t be shocked to see him make some moves. For now, his staff will further look into many of the following players in this year’s draft class. Here are 10 viable options, in no particular order, for the Bears early on in the 2018 draft.