Feb. 24--As Bears general manager Ryan Pace gauges the team's needs and matches them with the strengths and weaknesses of the free-agent and draft classes, a relatively deep group of college nose tackles offers the Bears a bit of flexibility in building the roster.
Danny Shelton (Washington), Eddie Goldman (Florida State) and Jordan Phillips (Oklahoma) stand out to ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay.
"If you're going to address your need at nose tackle, if you're going to find a centerpiece of that defense, you've got to do it with Shelton, Goldman or Jordan Phillips," McShay said Monday on a teleconference. "And three is more than in most years in terms of what you would have for guys that potentially could become a good starter."
Of course, the Bears' needs entering the draft on April 30 depend on what they accomplish in free agency, which begins March 10. The nose tackle is a key position in the center of the 3-4 front, largely because the defense requires linemen to keep blockers off of linebackers, who in turn are counted on to make tackles.
Shelton is worth a top-10 pick, according to NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock. Goldman also could be a first-rounder. McShay expects Goldman and Phillips to be gone by the end of Round 2. The Bears pick seventh and 39th overall.
"I think Jordan Phillips is a perfect fit, but you've got to be comfortable that you can get him to play, and you have a plan for him from a nutrition standpoint, (that) you can keep him at a weight that works best for him," McShay said.
Phillips measured 6-foot-5, 329 pounds with 34 3/4-inch arms at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis.
As for Goldman (6-4, 336, 33 1/8), he compared himself to Bears defensive tackle Jeremiah Ratliff during his media session at the combine.
"I know you haven't seen him lately, but I still remember the days he was with the Cowboys," Goldman said.
Coincidentally, Pace mentioned Ratliff's history with the Cowboys when listing him as an internal candidate to play nose tackle in the new scheme. Last year's second-round pick, Ego Ferguson, also is expected to compete for playing time there.
Flying Husky: Connecticut cornerback Byron Jones soared to a standing broad jump of 12 feet, 3 inches during the final day of combine testing Monday. It's believed to be a world record, beating the previous mark of 12-2 set by Norway's Arne Tvervaag in 1968.
"His workout was just insane," McShay said.
Jones' 44 1/2-inch vertical jump was the highest among defenders at the combine. He'll run the 40-yard dash at UConn's pro day.
rcampbell@tribpub.com
