Chicago Bears have met with Alabama inside linebacker Reuben Foster

This one kind of took me by surprise, but the more I think about it the more I could see it happening.

This and about 25 other 2017 draft scenarios, that is.

Last night, according to the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport‏, members of the Chicago Bears’ staff had dinner with Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster, and today the team will meet with the 6’, 229 pounder. A few weeks ago there was some buzz that the San Francisco 49ers were interested in Foster at #2 overall, but that kind of died down after the NFL Combine, although the ‘Niners did recently meet with him.

In case you missed it, Foster was sent home form the combine after a verbal altercation while waiting for his medical checkup. Foster has since apologized, and I doubt it will affect his draft stock much, if at all.

He won the Butkus award as the best linebacker in college football during his final season at Alabama, as well as being a unanimous first team All American and All SEC selection.

Last year, the Bears added two starting inside linebackers in free agency, Jerrell Freeman and Danny Trevathan. Freeman spent 4 games suspended for PED use and Trevathan was lost with a knee injury. Nick Kwiatkoski, a rookie in 2016, filled in at ILB when the starters went down last year.

This could be the Bears doing their due diligence, or it could be the Bears are looking for an upgrade at inside linebacker.

The Bears met with free agent defensive lineman Ricky Jean-Francois over the weekend, but he flew off to meet with the Seattle Seahawks as well. If he and the Bears come to an agreement, he’d provide some depth along the d-line, but wouldn’t necessarily stop them from adding a guy in the draft.