Brandon Doughty, Jakeem Grant Visit Bears
- The Cardinals, the Bears, and Washington were among the teams to host Western Kentucky QB Brandon Doughty for pre-draft visits, according to Rand Getlin of the NFL Network (via Twitter). Doughty also participated in the Dolphins’ local workout day earlier this month.
- After meeting with Miami earlier this week, Texas Tech wide receiver Jakeem Grant visited the Cardinals on Tuesday and is making his final visit today to Chicago to meet with the Bears, tweets Rand Getlin.
Bears Could Pursue Brian Hoyer
The Jets are currently pursuing free agent quarterback Brian Hoyer, but the Bears could enter the mix for his services if he doesn’t end up in New York, reports Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com. Hoyer would be the backup to Jay Cutler in Chicago, which lacks an ideal reserve option. Neither David Fales nor Matt Blanchard has taken a regular-season snap, and Hoyer has an obvious connection to the Bears’ coaching staff in first-year offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains. Hoyer and Loggains worked together when the two were in Cleveland in 2014 (Loggains coached the Browns’ quarterbacks).
Pauline: Bears Considering Jarran Reed In First Round
- The Bears, who hold the 11th pick, are giving serious consideration to Alabama defensive tackle Jarran Reed.
Will Fuller Visiting Bears
- Speedy Notre Dame wideout Will Fuller is making a visit to Halas Hall to meet with the Bears today, per Greg Gabriel of 670 The Score in Chicago (Twitter link).
Bears Hosting Ezekiel Elliott On Wednesday
- Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott will have his previously-announced visit with the Bears this Wednesday, tweets Ian Rapoport.
Kevin White Will Attend Offseason Workouts
- After missing his entire rookie season with a shin injury, Bears receiver Kevin White — the No. 7 overall pick in 2015 — is now expected to be ready for Chicago’s offseason program. Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune has the details on White’s arduous recovery.
Paxton Lynch To Visit Bears
- Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch is still making pre-draft visits, and the Bears are one of the teams hosting him next week, per Rand Getlin of the NFL Network (Twitter link). PFR’s Rob DiRe had Chicago picking Lynch in our first mock draft last week.
Josh Bellamy Signs ERFA Tender With Bears
- Bears receiver Josh Bellamy posted a picture of himself on social media signing his exclusive rights tender with the club, as Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times tweets. Bellamy, 26, saw action in all 16 of the Bears’ games last season, started three, and totaled 19 receptions and two touchdowns.
Bears Exercise 2017 Option On Kyle Long
2:53pm: Long’s fifth-year option will be worth $8.821MM, tweets Joel Corry of CBSSports.com.
2:00pm: The Bears have become the third team to officially exercise a fifth-year option on a 2013 first-rounder, announcing today that they’ve picked up Kyle Long‘s option for the 2017 season (Twitter link). Safety Kenny Vaccaro (Saints) and tight end Tyler Eifert (Bengals) also had their fifth-year options exercised this week.
Long, 27, has been a Pro Bowler in each of his three seasons since entering the league, starting all but one game for the Bears over the last three years. After playing at right guard to start his career, the former 20th overall pick shifted over to right tackle during the 2015 season.
As Pro Football Focus’ data suggests, Long wasn’t quite as effective on the end of the offensive line as he was on the interior, and he figures to return to that familiar right guard spot in 2016. Because offensive linemen receive the same option salary no matter what position they play on the line, Long’s 2017 earnings won’t be affected by the position switch. The fifth-year option salary for offensive linemen in 2016 was $8.07MM, and it figures to be a little higher than that this time around.
The rest of the league’s teams have until May 3rd to exercise fifth-year options on players drafted in the 2013 first round.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Bears Show Interest In DE/OLB Eric Lee
- Gannon quarterback Liam Nadler is drawing interest from the Texans, Steelers, Chargers, Jets, Eagles, and Seahawks, tweets Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle. Wilson also reports (via Twitter) that the Texans, Buccaneers, Dolphins, Patriots, and Bears are among the teams to show interest in South Florida edge defender Eric Lee.