Five takeaway on NFL Scouting Combine bears

INDIANAPOLIS – This year's NFL screening combination reminded us that there are two versions: one for the quarter and one for all the others.

Kyler Murray of Oklahoma and Dwayne Haskins of Ohio State are considered the top two quarterbacks of the season. But neither Murray nor Haskins are apparently subject to the same degree of oversight – at least from a public perspective – that Mitch Trubisky experienced two years ago with respect to their limited junior college experience.

So, what gives?

Here are five things to remember about this year's combine, where the Bears were happy to keep a low profile after their 12-4 season:

QB riddle

Similar to Trubisky, Murray and Haskins have only one year of experience at the university. Trubisky was criticized for not being able to beat Marquise Williams in North Carolina. The teams explored why.

Haskins, however, is widely considered a first-round pick, but he has waited behind J. T. Barrett at Ohio State. Barrett played for the Buckeyes, but he was not transformed last year either. The Saints hired Barrett in their training group in January.

"Just being able to learn from [Barrett] was probably more beneficial than playing, "Haskins said Friday.

Murray's decision to pass on baseball (track and field had kept him in the ninth overall last year) for football was exciting the needy teams. But there is still only one year of initial experience to evaluate.

In 2015, Murray was transferred from Texas A & M to Oklahoma, where he was sitting behind the future first choice, Baker Mayfield, for two years.

"Learn to watch it work and [seeing] how he works, and obviously learn under [Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley]That explains why I did it, "said Murray.

Statistically, the evaluators have 377 pass attempts from Murray's last season – a win for the Heisman Trophy – to be evaluated. Haskins attempted 533 assists for Ohio State.

In the last year of Trubisky in North Carolina, he tried 422 assists. In three years, Trubisky has attempted 572, which is more than Murray's 512, including his time as a freshman in Texas A & M Haskins attempted 590.

One of the reasons for the difference in control could be that Murray and Haskins were part of better college teams. But Trubisky also faced a better individual competition in the preliminary assessments: DeShaun Watson, decorated national champion, and Patrick Mahomes, a global talent with a rocket arm.

Duke, Daniel Jones and Drew Lock, of Missouri, are considered the next best quarter of the season.

"I do not worry about the overvaluation or underestimation of last year's class or class in front of me," Haskins said. "I know what I can do. I know what I can be. I'm just going to show that to the teams. "

Size matters

Two years ago, Trubisky was the quarterback who had received a lot of attention after passing the official measures and had been registered at 6-2.

"Disaster averted: Mitch Trubisky measures 6-2 at NFL Combine", titled the site on the NFL.com website.

"He was over 6-2, so he made money," 49ers general manager John Lynch said later.

This year, Murray made the headlines for his measurements: 5-10 1/8, 207 lbs and 9 1/2 inches. There were concerns that Murray would be 5-9. At 5:10, there were more comparisons with Russell Wilson of the Seahawks. In some league circles, Murray's stature remains a legitimate concern.

"I'm still the youngest guy on the field," said Murray. "But I've repeated this many times, I feel that I have the biggest impact on the field. I am the best player on the field at all times. It's just the confidence that I have in me. "

The buzz QB

It was a well-kept secret, but the Bears were already in love with Trubisky before the 2017 combine. Last year, Browns general manager John Dorsey concealed his interest in Mayfield.

This year it has been reported – and widely speculated – that the Cardinals consider Murray their first overall selection, although they chose Josh Rosen in the first round last year.

Relationships begin with new Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury. He recruited Murray while he was head coach of Texas Tech.

"I have a great relationship with him," Murray said. "If I had to play under him, I think it would be a good deal."

Wait and watch

The Giants have until Tuesday to decide whether or not to use the franchise etiquette of Landon Collins, who has competed in three consecutive pro Bowls games. It seems unlikely that a long-term agreement will be reached before this date.

"We are still evaluating," said Giants General Manager Dave Gettleman. "You have this label. You can keep it.

In other words, the security market has yet to be defined. Beyond Thomas, there are other notable guarantees to consider: Earl Thomas, Tyrann Mathieu, Lamarcus Joyner and HaHa Clinton-Dix.

Where does this leave Adrian Amos?

He could be in the second level of free agent security. In general, teams do not consider safety as half a corner. This can often lead to a waiting game for many of them.

Thomas, three times in the first All-Pro team with the Seahawks, knows the pitfalls of the job well. He did not participate in training camp or play during last year's pre-season because of a contractual conflict.

Thomas finally returned before week 1, but in week 4, he had a broken leg and knocked down his sideline as he was being fired.

It is probably in the best interest of the Bears to allow Amos to test free will and then ask him to come back for further discussions once his market is truly established.

But the potential availability of Collins – as well as Thomas, Clinton-Dix, Mathieu and Joyner – will affect Amos' options. A team friendly deal may well come for the Bears.

Youth unleashed

The Bears' decision to sign a futures contract with Redford Jones after what GM Ryan Pace called an "open kicker training" in January could be a sign of their approach to solving their kicker problem. Nick Folk and Blair Walsh, veterans of the free agency, also participated in the training session.

"These guys come out of nowhere sometimes," said Pace. "We went into the subject and said," Hey, we're going to be impartial and we're just going to let him come. " [Jones] crashed this workout. It was impressive, so he's part of our team. "

The cautious approach could be to find a young kicker at a competition. Taking the veterans' path was disastrous, starting with Connor Barth's signature and ending with Cody Parkey.

A competition between two or three young kickers is also the most judicious solution financially. The Bears will use a Parkey designation after June 1 when it is released on March 13, which means a portion of its contract will remain in effect in 2019 and 2020.