Chicago Bears Quietly Met With Two Quarterbacks At The Combine — And What It Means
After watching last season, it’s become pretty clear the Chicago Bears found themselves a quarterback. Caleb Williams wasn’t perfect, but he was very good for much of the season. His seven 4th quarter comebacks are a franchise record, and he also broke Erik Kramer’s long-standing single-season passing mark with 3,942 yards. Add 30 total touchdowns, and you get an idea of how much Williams accomplished. One would think quarterbacks would be the last thing on the Bears’ minds going into the 2026 pre-draft process.
That would be wrong.
News from the scouting combine in Indianapolis is that the Bears have met with not one but two quarterbacks for interviews. The first was Cole Payton from North Dakota State.
Payton started one season for the Biston, throwing for 2,719 yards, 16 touchdowns, and just four interceptions. He also added 380 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground. The other name involved was Behren Morton of Texas Tech. Unlike Payton, he started four seasons, collecting 8,989 yards, 71 touchdowns, and 28 interceptions.
The Chicago Bears’ interest in both QBs isn’t hard to see.
Payton is a dual-threat player, much like Williams, has good size, and demonstrates touch and accuracy on his throws. His arm strength is decent but not special, and his mechanics are a sloppy mess. That isn’t a surprise given his lack of experience. He’s surprisingly sharp at reading the field and identifies blitzes quickly. He lacks decisiveness, which would be a problem at the pro level. Fans will be reminded of Jalen Hurts a lot. That said, the Eagles’ quarterback was a battle-tested veteran when drafted. Payton needs time to develop.
For Morton, it’s more about health and improvement as a timing passer. He knows how to operate in the pocket, demonstrating good feet to avoid pressure, and will keep his eyes down the field. His accuracy is good, and he’s tough as nails. Injuries have hampered him a lot in college, and his defensive identification skills aren’t the best. Still, he makes quick decisions and puts the ball where it needs to be. He has the makings of a reliable backup who can get you through a three-game stretch in a pinch.
It’s clear why the Bears are doing this.
Trade buzz has been building over the past couple of weeks around Tyson Bagent. Chicago’s primary backup quarterback for the past three years has steadily built a reputation in league circles. Certain coaches are intrigued by his potential after watching him in the preseason and listening to him in interviews. Bears head coach Ben Johnson said he believes Bagent is one of the 32 best quarterbacks in the league, meaning he should probably be a starter right now. If other teams reach the same conclusion, they are likely to make overtures to the Bears for his services.
If the team gets an offer they can’t refuse, Bagent will be gone. Case Keenum is also a free agent. That means the Chicago Bears wouldn’t have a backup quarterback. At that point, they’d have to retool the position behind Caleb Williams. Payton and Morton are two possible options they might consider on day three of the draft. They could be someone Johnson can develop to execute his offense if Williams ever went down, and maybe, with a little luck, end up in the same situation Bagent is.