INDIANAPOLIS — For Pittsburgh quarterback Nate Peterman, a week spent with the Bears’ coaching staff during the Senior Bowl was a worthwhile experience, one highlighted by the rapport he developed with offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains.
“He’s a great guy, and I certainly enjoyed getting to know him,” Peterman said Friday during the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center.
“He’s extremely smart, too. I mean, talk about a sharp guy who really knows football and knows the details of it.
“That’s what I enjoyed the most about it, picking up the little things that he was talking about with nuances of defenses. That was pretty cool.”
Unlike other top quarterbacks in the draft, Peterman said he doesn’t have a formal interview scheduled with the Bears. But that doesn’t mean the Bears aren’t interested in Peterman, who is projected to be a second- or third-round selection.
The Bears gained an in-depth knowledge of Peterman during their practices and meetings at the Senior Bowl. He also played the most for the Bears-coached North team in the game, completing 16 of 23 passes for 156 yards and a touchdown.
“I assume they had enough [information],” Peterman said with a smile.
An additional noteworthy aspect of Peterman’s experience with the Bears is how comfortable he felt handling the calls and reads of Loggains’ offense.
“Certain things were familiar, and that was helpful,” said Peterman, who has been compared to Derek Carr and Kirk Cousins. “To speak the same language and to see some cutups of how those NFL guys were doing the same plays and to picture yourself doing the same was pretty awesome.”
QB interviews
As expected, the Bears will meet with the top quarterbacks in the draft.
Notre Dame’s DeShone Kizer and Miami’s Brad Kaaya were scheduled to have formal interviews Friday night.
North Carolina’s Mitch Trubisky and Texas Tech’s Pat Mahomes also confirmed plans to huddle with the team.
“I’ll see coach [John] Fox and Mr. [Ryan] Pace,” Kaaya said. “So it’ll be good. Real good. Doing my thing.”
Clemson’s Deshaun Watson said he was scheduled to have interviews with 10 teams Friday.
Marshall matters
The Jets officially cut receiver Brandon Marshall on Friday. He lasted only two seasons with the Jets and will be looking to join his fifth team in 11 seasons.
In March 2015, the Bears traded Marshall and a seventh-round pick to the Jets for a fifth-round selection, which turned into safety Adrian Amos.
