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During draft season teams meet with dozens of prospects and all of that team's fans cry "SMOKESCREEN!"
But in all seriousness, throughout the course of the offseason from the Senior Bowl to the Combine and Pro-Days and even private in-facility visits, teams meet with tens of prospects at all different positions.
Typically teams will meet with the top five or so prospects from any given draft class in case they decide one is worth trading up for or one suddenly falls into their laps on draft day. Can never be too prepared in NFL circles.
So here is the list of prospects that the Bears have met with, according to Walterfootball.com
Brandon Allen, QB, Arkansas
Jacoby Brissett, QB, NC State
Chris Brown, WR, Notre Dame
Vernon Butler, DT/NT, Louisiana Tech
Devon Cajuste, WR, Stanford
Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State
Fahn Cooper, OT, Ole Miss
Marshaun Coprich, RB, Illinois State
Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State
Christian Hackenberg, QB, Penn State
Hunter Henry, TE, Arkansas
Kevin Hogan, QB, Stanford
Tyrone Holmes, DE, Montana
Quinton Jefferson, DT, Maryland
Cody Kessler, QB, USC
Alex Lewis, OT, Nebraska
Braxton Miller, WR, Ohio State
Antonio Morrison, ILB/OLB, Florida
Emmanuel Ogbah, DE/3-4DE, Oklahoma State
Paul Perkins, RB, UCLA
Dak Prescott, QB, Mississippi State
Reggie Ragland, ILB, Alabama
Rashawn Scott, WR, Miami
Elijah Shumate, S, Notre Dame
Michael Thomas, WR, Ohio State
Dan Vitale, FB, Northwestern
Jihad Ward, DT, Illinois
Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State
And Twitterverse says that the Bears have had a workout or meeting with Baylor WR Corey Coleman:
WR Corey Coleman so far: has visits and/or workouts with the #Bengals, #Lions, #Bears, #49ers, #Panthers and #Browns, among others.
— Rand Getlin (@Rand_Getlin) March 24, 2016
Depending on the outlet, I've seen Coleman argued as an overrated prospect or as the best WR prospect so, basically, a typical first round pick this time of year...
A couple of takeaways: A lot of QBs, eight in total. That is hardly a surprise when that is the most important position on a team and the Bears' own signal caller is over 30. On the other hand, don't read into it too much; teams in the position that Chicago is (Over 30 QB who isn't elite-level) are all going to check out all the QBs. Everyone's looking for the next great QB.
A lot of defensive linemen as well. This is a deep class and even with Eddie Goldman and Akiem Hicks, the Bears could go DL in the first two days of the draft.
Several wide receivers appear as well. Is that simply a ploy to expedite contract talks with Alshon Jeffery or is Ryan Pace serious about grabbing another WR early a year after taking Kevin White. Jeffery's deal is only for this season at the moment and White hasn't played a down of NFL ball. Curious, for sure.
Pace may not be satisfied at running back or offensive line as they're doing homework on a couple of those prospects as well.
It's hard to take many, if any, facts away from lists like this. What are some of your thoughts on the players that the Bears are (or aren't) meeting with?