The Chicago Bears scouting department and brass have been focusing on the trenches during their time in Mobile, Alabama, this week.
Texas Tech offensive lineman Caleb Rogers loved his meeting with the Bears this week. Defensive end Princely Umanmielen said his meeting went well with Chicago. Both players have had their moments to stand out at the Senior Bowl.
The Chicago Bears have been interested in Jackson Slater for a while
Sacramento State offensive lineman Jackson Slater knew he had his hands full when traveled to the Senior Bowl to line up at practice against defenders from the SEC and Notre Dame. The former FCS standout has done well in his reps against those elite players at Hancock Whitney Stadium.
Jackson Slater has been underrated this week at the #SeniorBowl pic.twitter.com/smCFpcgIam
— Jordan Sigler (@JordanSig) January 30, 2025
Slater confirmed to CCS that he has met with the Bears this week. He also dropped telling information on what Chicago thinks of him.
Slater said a Bears scout made multiple trips to Sacramento to watch him play at Hornet Stadiums during the regular season. He didn’t drop the name of the scout, but the details provided sounded like a West Coast area scout for the Bears.
Slater committed to Sacramento State as a three-star athlete out of Newport High School for the class of 2021, per 247Sports. The Bellevue, Washington, native made nine starts at left guard his freshman season, per the Hornet’s website. He started 11 games at left guard in 2022 but moved to left tackle in the FCS playoffs before returning to LG in 2023.
Proving his worth at the Senior Bowl
Slater wanted to prove he belonged in the NFL with his performance in the Senior Bowl after completing a season in which he did not give up a sack or QB hit. The six-foot-four, 316-pound interior lineman believes he did so after practice No. 3.
“I think I’ve proved I am a football player this week,” Stater said.
Slater said the talent level at the Senior Bowl was different than what he went against in the FCS. However, he said the speed of the game was similar to what he experienced in the Big Sky.
“I mean, obviously different talent level,” Slater said of going up against SEC and Notre Dame defenders during the American team’s practices. “I think you’re just seeing more consistency among the defensive line group, and even just playing with the offensive line guys. These are all guys that know what they’re doing when it comes to playing football.”
“But as far as speed of the game goes, I don’t think it was too different. I’ve always been a firm believer in, it’s just football at the end of the day. And especially playing in the Big Sky, one of the better small school conferences. I’d say it stacks up fairly well.”
Bleacher Report projects Slater as a sixth-round pick in a profile dated Jan. 22. He might have climbed up some scout’s draft boards with the way he performed at the Senior Bowl this week.
There’s a reason the Bears traveled to Sacramento multiple times to watch Slater.
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