The Morning Dump: Top 30?

Your children don't visit you anymore because they're too busy visiting the Bears

A top 30 visit is when teams can host draft prospects at their facility for interviews or hugs or whatever else they still need to learn throughout the month of March. Teams are also allowed to visit with prospects who go to college in the same geographical area without it counting against their total (the Bears get visits from Northwestern, Notre Dame, Illinois, etc.). These aren’t necessarily the team’s top 30 choices but rather players who will land all over the draft that the team would like to get to know better.

This is particularly relevant to the Bears because there has been a very strong connection the past two years between players who came in for visits and players who were eventually drafted by the team. Last year, all four players drafted other than punter Tory Taylor were Top 30 visits and in 2023, five of their six first picks were Top 30 visits (Darnell Wright, Gervon Dexter, Tyrique Stevenson, Zacch Pickens and Tyler Scott). Maybe Ben Johnson will depart from this tactic but it seems to be a pretty big tell on who this team is targeting.

Here are the players who have come to Halas Hall for a Top 30 visit at some point during the process. Unofficial meetings at the Combine or Pro Day weren’t included.

Top Pick Candidates

• Ashton Jeanty / RB / Boise State

  • PFF Big Board: 3

  • Jeanty is a total-package backfield playmaker with impressive balance, footwork, vision, explosiveness and big-play ability -- reminiscent of Alvin Kamara. He is a first-round offensive weapon who can succeed behind any blocking scheme.

    
    

• Will Campbell / OL / LSU 

  • PFF Big Board: 6

  • Campbell is an offensive lineman's offensive lineman. He approaches the position with excellent respect for what it takes to be great in the trenches: fundamentals, IQ and competitive toughness. His length and flexibility limitations might push him inside in the NFL, but this is a starting-caliber player at all five spots on the line.

    
    

• Omarion Hampton / RB / North Carolina

  • PFF Big Board: 26

  • Hampton is one of the class' most physically gifted running backs with his combination of size, explosiveness and lower-body strength. He can be a productive slasher type of runner behind zone schemes, but his overall vision could make him a boom-or-bust producer, depending on his offensive line.

    
    

• Josh Conerly Jr. / OT / Oregon

  • PFF Big Board: 30

  • Conerly has very good movement skills for a player who also brings adequate size and plus length to the tackle position. His game can lack some anticipation and strength, but if he continues to improve in those areas, he holds the skill set to be a reliable NFL starter -- one who can be impactful for a zone blocking scheme.

    
    

• Shemar Stewart / Edge / Texas A&M

  • PFF Big Board: 31

  • Stewart is a scheme-versatile, high-potential athlete who is still working on winning his reps with technique and discipline as much as athletic ability. His lack of production throughout his college career speaks to the lack of refinement in his game, but he is built like a future NFL player and should be a Day 2 pick because of it.

I’ve already said plenty on the first round pick but if Ryan Poles thinks he got a lot of heat for taking Velus Jones in the third round a few years ago, he’d be inviting a full furnace if he takes another measurables over production flop like Shemar Stewart except with an even more premium pick.

Other Rounds

• Omarr Norman-Lott / IDL / Tennessee

  • PFF Big Board: 34

  • Norman-Lott possesses more NFL potential than his snap counts and stats say. He is an athletically gifted, undersized 3-technique who with better hand usage and pass-rush plans can be a contributing starter.

    
    

• Demetrius Knight Jr. / ILB / South Carolina

  • PFF Big Board: 52

  • Knight will be one of the oldest prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft, but he is a mature player with good processing and fundamentally sound tackling. His run-defense angles can be a bit overaggressive, but you'll take that trade-off due to how well he moves in coverage and when pursuing ball carriers.

    
    

• Kaleb Johnson / RB / Iowa

  • PFF Big Board: 57

  • Johnson is a physically gifted running back who excels with the ball in his hands. As an early-down player, he can be successful behind any blocking scheme with good vision, light footwork and impressive burst and power. However, his lack of polish and reliability in third-down situations could keep him from being an every-down running back.

    
    

• Kyle Williams, Wide Receiver, Washington State

  • PFF Big Board: 63

  • Williams is undersized, but his game hints at big-time potential. His release package, quick feet, and ability to build speed as routes progress give him a starting-caliber ceiling with, in theory, the versatility to line up at any of the three receiver spots.

    
    

• Jonah Savaiinaea / OL / Arizona

  • PFF Big Board: 86

  • Savaiinaea's feet and pass-blocking technique should keep him in the league for a while, regardless of his position. If he can get stronger, he has a chance to stick as a starter at right tackle or inside for a zone-rushing team.

    
    

• Brashard Smith / RB / SMU

  • PFF Big Board: 139

  • Smith could be a highly productive receiving back in an offense that emphasizes his skill set and ability to align anywhere on the field. While he likely doesn't have the frame to handle 20-plus touches per game, he could be a valuable weapon for 10-15, especially with his ability to create mismatches against inside defenders in the passing game.

    
    

• Dylan Fairchild / OL / Georgia

  • PFF Big Board: 140

  • Fairchild is likely to at least serve as interior depth with his consistent pass protection skills. Whether or not he can improve his functional strength will determine if he can develop into a starter.

    
    

• Jordan Hancock / DB / Ohio State

  • PFF Big Board: 151

  • Hancock is at his best near the line of scrimmage as a nickel defender. He was a two-year starter for the Buckeyes and earned an 82.2 coverage grade across those couple seasons. Hancock is a smart player in zone coverage but isn't athletic enough to stick with receivers in man coverage.

    
    

• John Williams / OT / Cincinnati 

  • PFF Big Board: 229

  • Williams possesses the quick footwork that makes him an intriguing late-round flier at offensive tackle. However, to earn serious starting consideration in the NFL, he'll need to improve his balance and play with more control.

    
    

• Jackson Slater / OL / Sacramento State

  • PFF Big Board: 234

  • Slater has a ton of experience, intriguing athleticism and a good build for the NFL. He lacks the natural strength and density to be a starting NFL lineman, but he can lean into his unique quickness as a backup and potential starting center for a zone-blocking scheme (67.7 zone-blocking grade in 2024).

    
    

• Beaux Collins / WR / Notre Dame

  • PFF Big Board: 261

  • Collins is a big target at 6-foot-3 and 201 pounds, but his production has yet to live up to his size. He dropped seven passes in 2024 and will need to clean up those issues to contribute to an NFL wide receiver room.

    
    

• Nick Martin / ILB / Oklahoma State

  • PFF Big Board: 307

  • An injury cut short Martin's 2024 season, after he earned All-Big 12 honors the year prior. His athleticism helped him excel at rushing the passer (84.4 PFF grade) but didn't show up against the run (63.2 PFF grade). Despite volume tackle numbers, he struggles to fit the run and locate the ball, putting him out of position and causing him to miss tackles (15.5%).

Priority UDFA

• Dontae Fleming / WR / Tulane

  • PFF Big Board: NR

  • Averaged almost 20 yards per reception last year. That’s pretty good.

    
    

• Julian Ashby / LS / Vanderbilt

  • PFF Big Board: NR

  • They re-signed long snapper Scott Daly this offseason but a practice squad guy? I think once I’m talking about backup long snapper, it’s time to stop.