Bears interest in players with Texas continued on over into Wednesday after the Tuesday pro day as they got serious about top players available in the secondary.
The position choices were interesting and the talent elite.
According to a report by Tony Pauline of Sports Skeeda, the Bearswere one of three teams visiting with Texas safety Andrew Mukuba and also with cornerback Jahdae Barron.
Mukuba would be understandable as a possible third-round type of pick at a position of need.
The former Clemson and Texas player is regarded as the seventh-best safety in the draft by Pro Football Focus and fifth best by ESPN's Matt Miller and Field Yates. He's viewed as a third-rounder by NFL Mock Draft Database.
Andrew Mukuba is a demon. Another good Safety in a loaded class pic.twitter.com/v6su8itWst
— Billy M (@BillyM_91) February 14, 2025
The Bears do not have a safety under contract for 2026 so obviously they'll be looking at the position with an eye on the future in the draft, even if they have Kevin Byard, Jaquan Brisker, Elijah Hicks, Alex Cook, Jonathan Owens and Tarvarius Moore under contract for this year.
The intriguing part of these meetings is the interest in Barron, a cornerback called the second best in the draft by Mel Kiper Jr., Miller and Yates, as well as PFF. In fact PFF calls him the seventh best player in this draft and he ran 4.39 at the combine.
At Texas' Pro Day, Jahdae Barron shared why he believes he's CB1 in this draft
"There's a lot of people in this draft class. I'm not knocking what they do, they do a lot of great things...but I can do it all"#HookEm | #Texas pic.twitter.com/R7Y8yhY9ma
— Cory Mose (@Cory_Mose) March 26, 2025
The Bears could be looking at cornerbacks to provide serious competition to Tyrique Stevenson, who last year had moments of excellence and too many disasters.
They could actually consider Barron for any number of secondary positions.
Jahdae Barron is DOMINANT.
9 PBUs, 5 picks, and 0 TDs allowed in 2024 to go with just 279 yds allowed.
He’s the most physical and versatile DB in the class, capable of playing the boundary, safety, or wreaking havoc as a nickel.
Barron is a top 10 player and an elite talent. pic.twitter.com/Ssb4F4p3AW
— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) January 25, 2025
"Most definitely, a few teams have talked to me about playing safety, either nickel or just with run fits," Barron told combine reporters. "It's all been a blessing. A lot of teams asked me which I preferred. I told them I want to play all of them.
"It always was beneficial to me. (Former DBs) coach (Terry) Joseph taught me if I could know all of them, I'd have a better understanding of what everybody's job was supposed to be when I was at different positions, knowing everybody's responsibilities. It allowed me to play much faster, knowing his point was A to B and my point was C to D. Things like that. I put it together and made it my little chess game."
Texas S Andrew Mukuba was one of my favorite players to watch in CFB last season.
-Versatility... 3 years in the slot for Clemson but looked natural as a centerfielder in 2024
-Fluid mover with very good zone coverage awareness... lots of ball production (5 INTs/6 PBUs
-Runs… pic.twitter.com/p5Tbfvk4B9
— Derrick (@Steelers_DB) March 19, 2025
It wasn't just talk, either. He actually played the positions.
"I played dime, corner, safety and nickel," said Barron, who oozes confidnce. "Having that in my bag and knowing I can be moved around and to benefit anybody's team, I know that will help."
Another potential point of interest is as a strategic bluff in the draft.
Jahdae Barron told me about how boxing in his youth made him a much better corner...but not for the reason you might think.
Great players have great eyes, folks. pic.twitter.com/yC9mRKmmaG
— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) March 19, 2025
After all, a team might want the second-best cornerback and be willing to trade up to No. 10 if there is a chance to land him if they thought there was a chance he'd be taken.
Some mock drafts project have the 49ers taking Barron at No. 11 right after the Bears. But if the Bears also have interest in Barron, earnest or not, they could always essentiall hold the 49ers to a "ransom trade" and go back for an extra pick.
Jahdae Barron casually flattening 6'6" Colston Loveland pic.twitter.com/msv65pcGXz
— Alex Insdorf (@alexinsdorf99) March 24, 2025
Either way, best athlete available at No. 10 could very well be Barron if the PFF rankings are accurate and no team ever gets worse by taking the highest player on their draft board unless they've got a mistake in their rankings.
As numerous coaches at Halas Hall have said over the years, you never have enough cornerbacks.
They're starting out now in a new defensive scheme emphasizing more press coverage than in the past, although not to the point where they'd be in man-to-man coverage half the time.
"I'm definitely confident in zone and man," Barron said. "I played man in the slot. I played man even in our zone coverage. Our Cover-3 was a match-3."
70% of the earth is covered by water, the rest by Andrew Mukuba.
In his first year as a true safety, Mukuba posted 5 INTs, 6 PBUs, 0 TDs allowed, and just 74 yards allowed on 23 targets.
He’s also a heat seaking missile against the run, but could clean up tackling.
Day 2 pick. pic.twitter.com/vQscGmcvmN
— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) January 20, 2025
In five Texas seasons, Barron made eight interceptions, 24 pass breakups and three fumble recoveries.
Mukuba made six interceptions, including five in his one Texas season, and had 23 pass breakups.
The interest came a day after they have extended a 30-visit invitation to Longhorns speed burner wide receiver Isaiah Bond.
This statement from Jahdae Barron after the game is POWERFUL.
This is the type of player EVERY NFL team needs.
Not only is he arguably the nation’s best CB, holding Jeremiah Smith (arguably the nation’s best WR) to only 1 reception for 3 yards.
But after seeing this video,… pic.twitter.com/Wo9JNEjXMS
— NFL Rookie Watch (@NFLRookieWatxh) January 11, 2025
The receiver situation was expected because of Ben Johnson’s penchant for speed in the attack. The safety need explained the interest in Mukuba,
The interest in Barron is something the Bears would need to explain through their actions on draft day.
The @nyjets were one of many teams at the @TexasFootball pro day yesterday and one would have to think took a keen interest in safety Andrew Mukuba.
One of the better all-around safeties in the class. Can cover on the back end and quick trigger downhill in run support. pic.twitter.com/aCcJxKkHh2
— Glenn Naughton (@JetsPicks) March 26, 2025
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