25 Players Chicago Bears Should Watch Closely at 2012 NFL Scouting Combine

More than 300 top prospects have been invited to attend the 2012 NFL Scouting Combine in Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Eight of these players are likely to be selected by the Chicago Bears in the draft.

The combine starts Wednesday and ends Feb. 28. For the Bears, who have eight picks in the draft, and other teams, it will be the best opportunity to size up potential draft choices for the final time.

The draft is unpredictable, so teams have to be ready in case players rise or fall unexpectedly. The method Chicago and many other teams use is to rank players on a board regardless of position so they can take the best player available when their turn comes up.

They will also rank them by position, as relatively equal players can be taken based on greatest positional need. For example, the Bears aren't likely to take a QB or a running back (at least early) in the draft.

This means the Bears need to see as many players as possible. Yet there are always going to be specific players they will have their eye on a bit closer at the Combine.

Recognizing that, let's dive right in and look at which players the Bears are likely to focus on in Indy.

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Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

For those of you who read me regularly—and I appreciate that and love you very much—you know how much I like Ingram. Those who I've talked to with the Bears organization say they are very aware of him, and that he is among a handful of players who they can envision drafting with their first pick.

If I was a betting man, I think Michael Floyd is their guy, but a lot depends on who is available and what they see and hear at the Combine.

But the Bears need pass-rush help. Their rush was very inconsistent last season, and Israel Idonije had a disappointing follow-up to a nice year in 2010.

For the Bears to improve that pass-rush, I believe they need a bookend to Julius Peppers. I feel they already have the right young guys at DT to generate inside pressure, so I am guessing they will be looking at a guy like Ingram.

Ingram is explosive off the ball, and linemen have a tough time sustaining their blocks on him. He shows a variety of different moves and has a rare combination of agility and quickness.

Ingram is also powerful and will be a first-round pick. He should be still on the board when the Bears pick at No. 19 in the first round, and I expect them to take a long look at this kid.

Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama

The reigning Defensive MVP of the BCS Championship Game (his second national title in three years), Upshaw is a stud who will likely be drafted before the Bears select at No. 19. Still, they need to do their due diligence on this physically gifted player.

Upshaw is probably best suited for outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme. So the Bears and other teams will want to get a good look at him to see if he can factor in a 4-3 defense. Even with a talent as great as Upshaw, if he fits better in a 3-4 as most scouts currently believe, then the Bears would be better off drafting Ingram even if by some chance Upshaw falls to them in the first round.

Upshaw lacked the explosive, quick burst that Ingram showed at the Senior Bowl, but he did demonstrate a lot of power. At 6-foot-2, 263 pounds, Upshaw had 51 tackles, 17 tackles for a loss, 8.5 sacks and a pair of forced fumbles in 2011.

He's going to be a great player in the NFL.

Jared Crick, DE, Nebraska

A season-ending injury (torn pectoral muscle) shakes up his draft status. Prior to the injury, he was projected as a second-round pick.

Lots of teams will be looking to see if Crick is healthy at the combine. If he can prove he's healthy, he will be a second-round pick. But if questions remain, the Bears could take a chance in the third or fourth round on Crick.

However, even if healthy, and despite the fact that Crick played inside as a three-technique on most plays for the Cornhuskers, it seems his best fit would be as a 3-4 end in the NFL. 

In a 3-4, he could utilize his height, strength at the point of attack, and intelligent play to shed blocks and provide interior pressure without worrying about beating tackles off the edge.

Cam Johnson, DE, Virginia

Cam Johnson has played both OLB in a 3-4 scheme and DE in a 4-3 scheme. His ability to generate explosive burst and power in his first few steps is his best asset.

The Bears should look at Johnson as a potential third-round pick. Johnson is clearly best suited as a 4-3 strong side DE, though he has potential as a 3-4 DE because of superior power.

Johnson is known to be a hard-working kid who is relentless on the field. He has a classic NFL DE frame with long arms. His explosion, power and ability to close quickly should deserve a long look from the Bears, who will also want to review his MRIs for old injuries at the combine.

His coach, Mike London, claimed that Johnson's inconsistent play at times can be attributed to having sickle cell trait, which can cause mild anemia under stressful conditions such as high-level exercise.

Mike Adams, OT, THE Ohio State University

His Senior Bowl performance and 2011 season has some scouts moving Adams up the draft board quickly. Originally projected as a third-round pick, he may even sneak into the late first round now.

But the Bears will likely look at him in case he slips into round two, where he would be a nice value pick for the Bears. Let's say they grab a WR with their first pick and Adams with their second. Now, two of their biggest problems are solved.

Adams is 6'7", 325 lbs, but has had a couple off-field incidents, including one involving drug paraphernalia, while another was for receiving improper benefits.

Adams is a better pass protector than a run blocker. Not a first round pick for the Bears, but if he slips into round two, they will carefully consider him.

Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

An athletic left tackle with natural bend, lateral agility and good foot quickness, Martin is also expected to be taken before the Bears pick, but they better look at him in case he slips. They need an upgrade over J'Marcus Webb. 

Martin has been protecting the blind side of QB Andrew Luck for the past two seasons. While Martin may not prove to be an elite athlete during post-season workouts for scouts, there's little doubt he has the ability to stay on the left side at the next level.

Kevin Zeitler, Guard, Wisconsin

I like this kid, though I would prefer taking him in the third round. However, he may not last, so if the Bears want him they may need to make the choice at No. 50.

Zeitler is strong at the point of attack and protects well in both running and passing situations. But do the Bears need a guard that badly? They have depth, though not an overabundance of talent at the position.

The combine may make the difference between Zeitler being an early second-round pick or a late second round / early third-round selection.

Peter Konz, Center, Wisconsin

We've debated the merits of taking a center with the first-round pick, but no matter what, I'm sure the Bears will take a long, hard look at the best center in the draft, Peter Konz.

Konz will go in the first round or early second, so the Bears will get only one shot at him. With all of the big WRs in this loaded draft, one or two might still be around when the Bears pick day two, so drafting Konz isn't out of the question.

Konz is 6'5", 315 lbs but not a great athlete. He doesn't have great feet, but is able to pull well and is an excellent run blocker. Perhaps his best asset is in picking up line stunts and blitzes.

Konz has had some serious medical issues, but they seem to be behind him now.

Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

Floyd could be taken by the Jets at No. 16, but if not, he very well could be on the board when the Bears draft at No. 19. Since WR is perhaps the Bears greatest need, they better take a long look at Floyd.

Floyd has ideal size for Chicago, at 6'3", and did not participate in the Senior Bowl, so the combine will be the first chance that teams have to look at him.

Floyd has some alcohol-related off-field incidents in college, so I'm sure the Bears will be diligent about scouring a player's personal behavior before taking him with their first pick.

Floyd's combination of size and agility will make him difficult to pass up in the first round if he is still available.

Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

Some mocks have Jeffery going before Floyd in the draft, and some have him taken after Floyd. Some even have Jeffery lasting until the early second round. It seems his draft prospects are all over the place, with some concerned about his speed.

So, for Jeffery, the combine will likely go a long way toward determining the draft order. In his first mock, Mel Kiper, Jr. had him going to the 49ers late in the first round.

But no matter what, he is another WR who won't be there when the Bears draft in the second round, so they had better look at him while they can because they will only get one shot, if any, at him.

I like Jeffery for the Bears. He may not have elite speed, but he is a beast; a big, solid WR who has good leaping ability and catches balls like a power forward grabs rebounds.

Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers

Unfortunately, Sanu is the type of prospect who might be a bit of a reach at No. 19, but will be gone by the time the Bears draft in round two. Sound familiar?

I really like Sanu as an underrated wideout.The Rutgers receiver creates space and stretches the field with his speed. He is a big-play wideout who should be able to contribute immediately.

Sanu was double covered most of the season and played with a team that was juggling QBs and still put up terrific numbers.

Rueben Randle, WR, LSU

Another day two, second round possibility, Randle is suffering from his poor showing in the two games against Alabama, as 'Dre Kirkpatrick stuck to him like glue.

But at 6'4", 208 pounds, Randle was the Tigers' most productive receiver in 2011. He led the team in catches (53), receiving yards (917), average yards per catch (17.3) and receiving touchdowns (eight).

His rare combination of size and speed has him ranked as high as the sixth-best WR in the draft by at least one major outlet. He likely won't last beyond the second round and could be gone by the time the Bears pick in round two.

Nick Toon, WR,

As those of you who followed my very first mock, I liked this kid in the third round. His foot injury is a real concern to me, however, so Toon will need to prove he is healthy at the combine.

Toon comes from a winning program, runs NFL-style routes, and his father played in the NFL. He is smart and is a willing blocker.

Toon does nothing really well, but he does everything well. Does that make sense? In other words, he isn't going to be an elite down-field threat, but will be a solid possession-type receiver who would be great in round three or four.

Dwight Jones, WR, North Carolina

Jones is another in a line of taller wide receivers for the Bears to consider. Jones had 79 catches for 1,119 yards and 11 touchdowns and got into some trouble by allowing his name to be used to promote a party.

ESPN reported that Jones' stock dropped at the Senior Bowl, so he could make for a value pick on day two, or even day three.

Apparently, he looked shaky catching the ball and dropped some passes. But he has NFL talent and would be a great pick in the third and fourth rounds if he fell that far.

Marvin McNutt, WR, Iowa

Again, here is another tall receiver with good strength and hands. He is not very elusive, so he likely won't be a game-changer or a true No.1 wideout, but would be a solid possession-type receiver who runs excellent routes.

He was recruited out of high school as a QB but switched to WR full-time in 2009. McNutt had his best season in 2011 as a senior with 13 starts, finishing with 82 catches for a conference-best 1,315 yards (16.0) and a school single-season record 12 touchdowns.

McNutt doesn't have explosive speed, but has long strides and just enough speed to keep defenders honest. He is still learning the ropes as a receiver, so he would be better as a third-round pick who can develop into a starting wideout with the Bears.

At the combine, the Bears will see if they're mcnuts about McNutt. Hey, I can see a McDonald's endorsement contract in his future. Or not.

Brian Quick, WR, Appalachian State

We already know that the Bears have their eye on Quick, as this ESPN report confirms. But that was prior to the new GM being in place. 

The Bears like what they've seen of Quick at the Senior Bowl. He made my very first mock draft. I don't like him on day one, but as a potential second rounder, he might be fine.

However, even the Bears talent evaluator that the report was talking to cautioned that despite "all his upside, he's really raw."

Quick is from a smaller school and didn't play football until his senior year in high school. Still, he is rated as the eighth-best WR in the draft by Scouts, Inc. (ESPN's scouting arm) and the seventh-best wideout on CBSSports.com.

Quick has ideal size, and this draft is chock full of big guys who could make an impact day one or two of the draft. So, there is no excuse for the Bears not to draft a WR.

Of the receivers picked to be drafted in the first three rounds, 10 of them are at least 6'2" tall.

I'm sure the Bears will be looking to see if Quick can continue to make an impression at the Combine.

Tommy Streeter, WR, Miami (Fla.)

Another tall (6'5") wideout who should be available in round three. Streeter was expected to return to Miami, but surprisingly signed with agent Drew Rosenhaus.

Depending on his showing at the combine, Streeter could move up into round two. But in the third round, the Bears should consider him as long as they either draft or sign an immediate impact receiver too.

He had only five catches entering his junior year, but he exploded this season. He doesn't have a documented 40-yard dash time yet, so his workouts will be key.

He's a late bloomer who could catch the Bears' eye at the combine.

Stephen Hill (Georgia Tech) is another 6'4" WR who will probably be available in round three.

Harrison Smith, SS, Notre Dame

If you are of the notion that Chris Conte is the free safety of the future for the Bears, and despite his relatively brief time on the field, he did play well, then strong safety is where the Bears will likely focus on.

Major Wright has a lot of questions, so I expect the Bears to be looking for safety help from the third round on. And Harrison is 6'2" and 212 lbs., is strong and makes punishing hits.

Smith is expected to go in round three, which could be a problem for the Bears, who are unlikely to take a safety until the fourth round or later.

Still, he has good size and strength and loves contact. He plays a bit stiff and could use better mechanics in tackling, but is very productive, as he is the only player in Notre Dame history with more than 200 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and 15 pass breakups.

Coryell Judie, CB, Texas A&M

Judie is another corner I would like in the third round, though, I would prefer Johnson. But there is a much better chance of Judie being on the board in round three than Johnson, who I expect to be gone in round two.

Judie needs to prove that his hamstring injury is a thing of the past at the combine. He has already shown the ability to make the spectacular interception and fits well in a zone system.

Judie does bite on pump fakes, but gets off blocks well and has the strength to be effective in run support. He is a good tackler, though not a real hard hitter.

Alfonso Dennard, CB, Nebraska

I would not draft Denard with pick No. 19, but if he somehow slipped into round two and was on the board when the Bears drafted, I would certainly take a long look at this kid.

The Bears need a cornerback to pair with Charles Tillman, with Tim Jennings an unrestricted free agent. Denard is physical, but he got beat at the Senior Bowl by Jones and McNutt.

He has an excellent vertical jump to compensate for his lack of height. Denard also runs well with the ball in his hands, though he is inconsistent adjusting to low throws.

Trumaine Johnson, CB, Montana

Johnson has good size, at 6'2", and he has been productive for Montana. He has 44 tackles, one sack, one interception and 11 pass breakups and a dozen pass deflections this season. He also forced a fumble.

Johnson has the size, length and quick footwork the Bears could use at the position, and he also returns kickoffs.

But he does not have elite speed, and he missed some games in 2008-09. Still, he would make a solid press or zone corner in the Ike Taylor mold.

Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

Jenkins is actually the second-rated CB on ESPN's ranking—he lacks the size of Claiborne and Kirkpatrick, who both will be gone by the second round.

But he has a bunch of off-field incidents, including being kicked off the Florida football team after being arrested twice in a three-month span on drug related charges in 2010.

Would the Bears gamble on a top tier talent despite the problems? I don't know. But some team definitely will. And the Bears should at least talk to him and see if his past is behind him. He is a tremendous talent.

Keenan Robinson, OLB, Texas

A potential third or fourth-round pick, Robinson has the ability to change directions well, so even though he may not have the skills to sniff out a play, he reacts well on the fly.

Robinson has sideline-to-sideline speed to chase down tacklers with good strength.

Nigel Bradham (Florida State) and Tank Carder (TCU) are other linebackers the Bears will have their eyes on at the combine.

Rhett Ellison, TE, Southern California

I don't expect the Bears to even consider a tight end until the later rounds, so Ellison might get a look from Chicago in the fourth or fifth rounds if available.

He is the tallest of the later-round TEs at 6'5", assuming Ladarius Green (LA-Lafayette) goes early as I expect.

George Bryan (NC State) is also 6'5" and is expected to go fifth or sixth round, so the Bears may also want to take a look at him at the combine.

B.J. Coleman, QB, Chattanooga

I wasn't going to include a QB on this list, simply because they already have Jay Cutler, need a veteran to back him up and also have Nathan Enderle.

But the Bears should take a look at this guy at the combine. If he lasts until the late rounds, and the Bears are no longer committed to Enderle, I would take a chance on him. 

He has better size than most of the late-round QBs and has a strong arm. He also has good mobility and really looked good at the East-West Shrine game.

Scouts like his passion and leadership ability, too.