Bears Tried Meeting With Baker Mayfield, Report Says
Mayfield, the 2017 Heisman winner, has drawn interest from numerous NFL teams
By James Neveau ••
The Chicago Bears were able to scout and evaluate a slew of players at this week’s Senior Bowl in Alabama, but they reportedly requested a meeting with at least one player that may shock fans.
According to The MMQB’s Robert Klemko, a Bears scout requested a 15-minute meeting with Heisman Trophy-winning Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield while the team was working in Mobile.
Mayfield, who has been pegged as a likely first round pick in this year’s NFL Draft, seemed just as surprised as anyone that the Bears wanted to meet with him just one year after drafting Mitchell Trubisky.
“You guys just drafted Mitchell Trubisky,” he said. “So what do you want with me?”
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 31: Latavius Murray #25 of the Minnesota Vikings carries the ball for a one yard touchdown in the first quarter of the game against the Chicago Bears on December 31, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 31: Stefon Diggs #14 of the Minnesota Vikings carries the ball in the first quarter of the game against the Chicago Bears on December 31, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 31: Mitchell Trubisky #10 of the Chicago Bears fields the snap in the first quarter of the game against the Minnesota Vikings on December 31, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 31: Bryce Callahan #37 of the Chicago Bears runs with the ball for a 59 yard punt return touchdown in the second quarter of the game against the Minnesota Vikings on December 31, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 31: Anthony Barr #55 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates after tackling Michael Burton #46 of the Chicago Bears for no gain on third down in the first quarter of the game on December 31, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 31: Anthony Barr #55 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates after tackling Michael Burton #46 of the Chicago Bears for no gain on third down in the first quarter of the game on December 31, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 31: Anthony Barr #55 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates after tackling Michael Burton #46 of the Chicago Bears for no gain on third down in the first quarter of the game on December 31, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 31: Adam Thielen #19 of the Minnesota Vikings catches the ball in the second quarter of the game against the Chicago Bears on December 31, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 31: Case Keenum #7 of the Minnesota Vikings leads a huddle in the first half of the game against the Chicago Bears on December 31, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 31: Case Keenum #7 of the Minnesota Vikings hands the ball off in the first half of the game against the Chicago Bears on December 31, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 31: David Morgan #89 of the Minnesota Vikings runs with the ball in the first quarter of the game against the Chicago Bears on December 31, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 31: Mitchell Trubisky #10 of the Chicago Bears passes the ball in the first quarter of the game against the Minnesota Vikings on December 31, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 31: Stefon Diggs #14 of the Minnesota Vikings runs out of bounds with the ball to stop the clock at the end of the second quarter of the game against the Chicago Bears on December 31, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 31: Trae Waynes #26 of the Minnesota Vikings breaks up a pass to Josh Bellamy #15 of the Chicago Bears in the second quarter of the game on December 31, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 31: Stefon Diggs #14 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates with teammate Jerick McKinnon #21 after scoring a touchdown in the third quarter of the game against the Chicago Bears on December 31, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 31: Brian Robison #96 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates after sacking Mitchell Trubisky #10 of the Chicago Bears in the third quarter of the game on December 31, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 31: Mitchell Trubisky #10 of the Chicago Bears drops back to pass the ball in the third quarter of the game against the Minnesota Vikings on December 31, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 31: Kendall Wright #13 of the Chicago Bears is tackled with the ball by Danielle Hunter #99 of the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth quarter of the game on December 31, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 31: Stefon Diggs #14 of the Minnesota Vikings attempts to spin away from a Chicago Bears defender in the fourth quarter of the game on December 31, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 31: Kendall Wright #13 of the Chicago Bears is tackled with the ball by Danielle Hunter #99 of the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth quarter of the game on December 31, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 31: Josh Bellamy #15 of the Chicago Bears is tackled with the ball by Xavier Rhodes #29 of the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth quarter of the game on December 31, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 31: Mitchell Trubisky #10 of the Chicago Bears and Case Keenum #7 of the Minnesota Vikings greet each other after the game on December 31, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Bears 23-10. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 31: Chicago Bears head coach John Fox on the sidelines during the fourth quarter of the game against the Minnesota Vikings on December 31, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 31: Tarik Cohen #29 of the Chicago Bears breaks a tackle by Harrison Smith #22 of the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth quarter of the game on December 31, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 31: Benny Cunningham #30 of the Chicago Bears carries the ball while being pursued by defender Anthony Barr #55 of the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth quarter of the game on December 31, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 31: Mackensie Alexander #20 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates with teammate Terence Newman #23 turning over the Chicago Bears in the fourth quarter of the game on December 31, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 31: Sam Acho #93 of the Chicago Bears celebrates after sacking quarterback Case Keenum #7 of the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth quarter of the game on December 31, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
The Bears obviously are not looking at drafting Mayfield, but there are a variety of reasons they’d be interested in talking to him. An interview could help them determine whether concerns about his mentality after high-profile incidents at Ohio State (where he planted the Oklahoma flag at midfield) and Kansas (where he grabbed his groin and taunted Jayhawks players) are valid, and could help them figure out where teams are likely to value him in the draft.
An interview with Mayfield could also help the Bears scout him in the future, as teams will often throw oddball questions at players to determine how they react under pressure, and how quickly they are able to grasp and apply various football concepts.
With the eighth overall pick, the Bears could be in a position where a team would be willing to trade up to get Mayfield, and they’ll do their due diligence on him as they prepare for the draft process.
