The Bears’ search for help at safety turned into a short drive on Tuesday. They were one of 14 teams to attend the private pro day of Northwestern safety Ibraheim Campbell.
Campbell sat out Northwestern’s pro day on March 3 after injuring his hamstring in February. NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock considers Campbell one of the top-five safeties in this year’s draft class, and he’s widely rated as a mid-round pick for the 2015 draft.
“One of my strengths [is] my versatility,” Campbell said at the NFL Scouting Combine. “At Northwestern, we played right and left safety, so I could be the strong safety position or the free safety position.
“I feel like I’m pretty rangy as a free safety, and as a strong safety, I feel like I embrace the physicality of the strong safety position well.”
Campbell, who led all safeties at the combine with 23 repetitions of 225 pounds on the bench press, was a four-year starter for the Wildcats. He was voted second-team All-Big Ten by coaches in 2014.
In his college career, Campbell, who also took part in the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, had 11 interceptions and six forced fumbles (four in 2014).
The Bears addressed safety in free agency, signing veteran Antrel Rolle to a three-year contract. But it’s still a position of need. The Bears also hosted safety Ron Parker for a visit, but he re-signed with the Chiefs.
“We talked about safeties at the combine,” general manager Ryan Pace said. “I think it’s a difficult position to evaluate because instincts are such a high priority with the safety position.
“So, instincts, ball skills, ability to tackle in space, those are things that jump out to me. But we want passionate football players. Guys that are physical, passionate football players.”
