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New York Times
12-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Bears rookie minicamp takeaways: Coaches offer early impressions of draft picks
LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen has been in the NFL for 23 years. He's got six seasons of head coaching — with two different teams — under his belt. It's probably fair to trust him when he sets the tone about rookie minicamp. 'Look, obviously, rookie minicamp, we're just getting into the introduction phase of what we're doing with these young guys, so we're not going to get into a lot of instant reactions in terms of how everybody's doing,' he said Saturday at Halas Hall. 'These guys are out here excited about working … and we're excited about working with them.' Advertisement We don't want to completely downplay the first opportunity to see the rookies on the field in Bears uniforms, but it's a nice reminder that there's only so much we can glean from the sideline. The coaches know how well the rookies are picking up the playbook and handling their assignments. One way the 2025 class of rookies aimed to prove themselves after Day 1 of rookie minicamp was meeting up in position groups at the hotel to go over the playbook. That initiative had to impress the coaches. Squad up, 🐻⬇️ — Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) May 11, 2025 'We wanted to have a better practice today as a whole group and not just one person,' fifth-round corner Zah Frazier said. 'That's how we're repping each other, you know, no man left behind.' Fourth-rounder Ruben Hyppolite II helped get the linebackers together to help show improvement for the weekend practices. 'We got together, went over some of the install and then, for myself, just went over the install on the iPad, writing down, taking notes, doing what I do best and locking in and maintaining,' he said. 'I spent like an hour and some change last night just going through everything again before coming out today. Just want to be prepared and ready to go.' Rookie minicamp might be a little more of what we heard than what we saw, and over the weekend, we got to meet with Bears coordinators for the first time since the draft. At the end of the 2024 season, Bears offensive coordinator Declan Doyle was in his office in Denver as the Broncos' tight ends coach when he started watching film of Michigan tight end Colston Loveland. His first reaction? 'He's competitive,' Doyle said. 'He's super competitive. … I was like, 'Man, I would love to be able to coach this guy.'' What stood out to Doyle, presumably in addition to Loveland's ability to separate and make big-time catches, was that competitiveness, reflected best at how he finishes the play. Advertisement 'I think that you see him finishing at a high rate and you'll see him jaw a little bit at whoever he is playing against,' Doyle said. 'That's the biggest thing that stands out is just his ability to finish and his willingness to play through the whistle.' Doyle was with the Saints when they drafted tight end Adam Trautman in the third round in 2020, who then headed to Denver to reunite with Doyle and coach Sean Payton. Having worked under Payton, Doyle probably has a good sense of how tight ends can be used as a weapon. Payton had a pretty good one in Jimmy Graham. Loveland is at practice with a helmet, doing a few things, but still isn't full-go. 'He's really inquisitive and he's very involved just right from the tip,' Doyle said. Just Lovely — Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) May 10, 2025 Second-round wide receiver Luther Burden III had the highlight of Saturday's practice when he hauled in a deep ball, but he came down hard on the ball and was slow to get up. He returned Sunday and participated in the final practice of rookie minicamp. As far as Doyle's evaluation of the former Missouri wideout, it mirrors what we heard from head coach Ben Johnson. 'He's an explosive athlete,' he said. 'He's really exciting. His tape was really impressive in college. He's a playmaker and when the ball's in his hands, he was one of the best guys that we evaluated in this process.' Burrrr Down 🐻⬇️ — Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) May 9, 2025 Veterans are in the middle of their offseason training program. They had three days of practices in April, and otherwise have been limited to strength and conditioning, and classroom work. That's allowed Doyle to get to know his quarterback, Caleb Williams. Something Williams did last weekend, in the dead time of the NFL calendar, caught Doyle's eye. Advertisement 'He is very eager to do work, he's here after hours. He's really trying to get it right. We're giving him scripts. He came in last Saturday and he's in the indoor (facility), trying to walk through it by himself,' Doyle said. 'I think it's really important to him that he gets it right. I think his teammates can feel that. I think his teammates feel a guy that's trying to take the next step. It's been a really positive exposure thus far.' The Bears' first practice as a full team begins in two weeks with OTAs. Year 2 loading 📶 — Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) May 8, 2025 Allen likes second-round pick Shemar Turner a lot. He talked about the athleticism, the explosion and power, and that Turner's 'got the right temperament for what we're looking for.' Then the Texas native gave us a metaphor for how they'll bring Turner along. 'I think we'll have to put the saddle on him and break him a little bit but we'd rather have to pull the reins back rather than have to whip him to get him to go,' Allen said. 'We're excited about working with him.' That career for Turner will begin at defensive tackle. While he played end earlier in his career at Texas A&M — also Allen's alma mater — Turner is best-suited, for now, inside. 'The first thing we got to do is we got to play him in at defensive tackle and let him learn there, let him develop there, both as a three-technique and a nose, and then we'll worry about trying to see that flexibility,' Allen said. 'From a skill set standpoint, yeah, he's got some flexibility. We'll just have to see what he can learn, how quickly he can learn and adapt to what we're doing.' The best thing going for Frazier is his size — 6-foot-3 with 32 7/8-inch arms. Allen said, who better to learn the position from than secondary coach Al Harris, the former 6-foot-1 corner? Advertisement Frazier said that Harris is working with him on his stance, and there was already a pass break-up on the stat sheet for Frazier. On a deep ball down the left sideline for first-year receiver John Jackson, Frazier was able to make a play. 'I was press-man. He gave me a good release,' Frazier said. 'I kinda, I stabbed him. I just played my technique and I didn't panic. And once you don't panic, good things happen. So that was a good thing, having a little PBU. I want the ball, though.' Getting the ball was something Frazier did at a high level last year at UTSA when he had a school-record six interceptions. 'Probably the biggest thing is you got a big, long press corner that can run,' Allen said. 'He made a play out there today along the left sidelines — defensively, as you look at it — and that's kind of what we saw with him. Here's another guy that's a young, developmental corner. He's got a lot of things that he's got to learn, but he's got the tools for us to work with.' Offensive lineman Luke Newman earned the Bears' interest because of his positional versatility, particularly at center during the East-West Shrine Game. But the Bears narrowed his focus this past weekend at Halas Hall. 'So since I got here, majority focus has been at left guard but obviously that versatility was a huge reason why I was drafted, why I'm here,' Newman said. 'And I look forward to working the other spots, right guard, center as well. I think working the interior three will kind of be my main focus going forward. I have the tackle background but obviously working interior three is going to be a major focus.' Big guys at work 😤 — Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) May 11, 2025 Newman said he feels natural at guard. He started on the left side at Michigan State last season after being a tackle at Holy Cross. But it's apparent that playing center intrigues him. 'Intellectually, obviously, it's a new playbook here,' he said. 'There's an adjustment period for that as well. But I really think that center, all in all, fits more of my body type. It's kind of more of what my strengths are. Obviously, I have that guard flexibility as well. But I really look forward to learning and adapting to center a lot more.' Advertisement The brash and direct coaching style of running backs coach Eric Bieniemy was on display during rookie minicamp. Running back Kyle Monangai, the Bears' final draft pick this year, is happy to be on the receiving end of it. 'He's a legend, No. 1, to begin with, just knowing his history, the people he's coached, the teams he's been a part of,' Monangai said. 'And he's really insightful, a great coach, gets me ready for practice every day. I'm excited for the future of what he's going to be able to teach me, and being able to work with him.' Monangai caught only 38 passes over five seasons at Rutgers but he's looking at the Bears' offseason program, which included rookie minicamp, as an opportunity to show Bieniemy and the rest of the coaching staff that he will be a threat out of the backfield. 'I didn't get as many opportunities to do it in college,' he said. 'I wish I could've, but my role on the team wasn't that. So whatever my role is going to be that Coach Johnson wants to put me in, Coach Doyle wants to put me in, if I can showcase that, then I'll showcase that. But it's definitely something that I work on each day.' (Photo of Luther Burden III (87): David Banks / Imagn Images)
USA Today
01-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Bears 2025 draft pick profile: CB Zah Frazier
Bears 2025 draft pick profile: CB Zah Frazier The Chicago Bears shored up their defensive backfield with the selection of UTSA cornerback Zah Frazier with the 169th overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft. Frazier is on the older side at 24 years old, but his measurables are quite impressive with a 4.36 40-yard dash, just under 6-foot-3 and has a 6-foot-8 wingspan. Last season, he totaled 24 tackles, one tackle for loss, six interceptions, a team-high nine pass breakups, one forced fumble and allowed a 35.8 passer rating when targeted. Frazier has elite ball skills, speed and length that make him an intriguing prospect for the Bears. Here's a quick rundown on Frazier: The Basics Height: 6-foot-3 Weight: 186 pounds Age: 24 From: Cedartown, Georgia Breakdown "Long-limbed corner with low career rep count but impressive production in lone starting season. Frazier is long, fast and athletic but upright and gawky in transitions from off-man coverage. He stays connected to all forms of vertical routes and uses his length/leaping ability to shade deep windows for the quarterback. He sees well from zone coverage and can burst/stride into plays on the football that some can't get to. Frazier will turn 25 years old as a rookie and started only 10 games at UTSA, but his traits, in-season improvement and ball production could make him a Day 3 pick with upside as an outside corner." -- Lance Zierlein Dane Brugler's Scouting Report A one-year starter at UTSA, Frazier was an outside cornerback in defensive coordinator Jess Loepp's balanced scheme. A hooper growing up, he bloomed late on the football field, making stops at the FCS and juco levels. He broke out in 2024 with six interceptions (No. 2 in the FBS), a UTSA program record. Most of his 2024 production came in a span of three games against East Carolina, North Texas and Temple (11 passes defended, six INTs), and he was inconsistent against better competition on the schedule (see Texas tape). Frazier has a rare combination of length, speed and on-ball production (even if it is a small sample). His tall, upright posture will work against him at times, especially when he prematurely turns his hips and invites route runners to attack his blind spot. Overall, Frazier is a long, lean bump-and-run corner with the speed and coordination to cling to receivers and find the football, when his technique stays consistent. There isn't much mystery why a team might feel he is worth the gamble on Day 3 of the draft. They Said It "I think he has really good instincts and he's got really good ball skills, so there is a couple plays on there where he turns and he can find it, track it down field, which is a really difficult thing for a lot of defensive backs to do. That to me is what jumped out on tape. Is if the ball is up in the air, it's one thing to have that frame and that length, it's another thing to be able to go up and play it like a wide receiver, which was really fun to watch." -- Bears director of player personnel Trey Koziol RAS card Grade: B "I think he has really good instincts and he's got really good ball skills, so there is a couple plays on there where he turns and he can find it, track it down field, which is a really difficult thing for a lot of defensive backs to do. That to me is what jumped out on tape. Is if the ball is up in the air, it's one thing to have that frame and that length, it's another thing to be able to go up and play it like a wide receiver, which was really fun to watch." -- Bears director of player personnel Trey Koziol Highlights Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
USA Today
26-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Grading the Bears' selection of CB Zah Frazier in the 2025 NFL Draft
Grading the Bears' selection of CB Zah Frazier in the 2025 NFL Draft The Chicago Bears have been loading up on speedy defensive players on Day 3 in the NFL Draft. In the fifth round, the Bears selected cornerback Zah Frazier out of the University of Texas at San Antonio. Frazier is the third defensive player the Bears have taken in a row, along with defensive tackle Shemar Turner in the second round and linebacker Ruben Hyppolite in the fourth round. Frazier is a tall and fast corner, standing at 6 feet 3 inches and 186 pounds. He showcased his speed at the NFL Combine by running a 4.36 40-yard dash and displayed his ball-hawking skills during the 2024 season at UTSA. Frazier finished tied for second in the FBS with six interceptions, which was a school record, according to NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein. Here is our initial grade of the Frazier pick: Draft details Pick No. 169 Cornerback Zah Frazier UTSA Initial grade: B Getting a tall and fast cornerback who produced on the field in the fifth round is a pretty good move. Cornerback is a position that you can never have too much depth, and Frazier's skillset stands out. He has excellent closing speed, and his length allows him to make plays on the ball that other cornerbacks can't. The Bears are betting on Frazier's traits, and at this point in the draft, why not? The major concerns with Frazier are his age (he will be 25 in the fall), he spent just one season as a starter, and he faced lower competition for the most part while at UTSA. When he and the Roadrunners squared off against Texas, they allowed Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning to put up 427 passing yards and 56 points. As the season went on, though, Frazier's play improved, and he began stacking up turnovers and pass breakups. All of Frazier's picks and pass breakups came after Week 4, when conference play began. He takes chances and can make up the ground when facing poor quarterbacks. He will need to tighten up when going against better competition at the NFL level. The Bears have done fairly well finding defensive backs late in the draft. Terell Smith in 2023, Elijah Hicks in 2022, and even Kindle Vildor in 2020 were all productive players at certain points. Taking a shot on Frazier makes sense, and he should help increase the competition at outside corner with Smith and Tyrique Stevenson.
USA Today
26-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Bears select CB Zah Frazier in the 2025 NFL Draft: Social media reacts
Bears select CB Zah Frazier in the 2025 NFL Draft: Social media reacts The #Bears take UTSA cornerback Zah Frazier with the No. 169 pick. Ran a 4.37 40-yard dash at 6'3' and had 6 INTs this past year. Lengthy press corner with great ball skills. I had him ranked No. 127 — very good value. — Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) April 26, 2025 Day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft has been all about speed for the Chicago Bears. In the fifth round, the Bears selected cornerback Zah Frazier out of the University of Texas at San Antonio. Frazier is the third defensive player the Bears have taken in a row, along with defensive tackle Shemar Turner in the second round and linebacker Ruben Hyppolite in the fourth round. Frazier is a tall and fast corner, standing at 6 feet 3 inches and 186 pounds. He showcased his speed at the NFL Combine by running a 4.36 40-yard dash and displayed his ball-hawking skills during the 2024 season at UTSA. Frazier finished tied for second in the FBS with six interceptions, which was a school record, according to NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein. Now as a pro, Frazier will compete in the Bears secondary that has starters such as Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon, and Tyrique Stevenson. Here is how social media reacted to the pick: Aside from Luther Burden, Zah Frazier was my favorite draft pick for the Bears. — BOOG (@BoogCB) April 26, 2025 Bears took CB Zah Frazier from UTSA in Rd 5 to add to their secondary. Fast and long. But certainly more of a "traits" pick it would seem. — Dan Wiederer (@danwiederer) April 26, 2025 That's not a running back, sir. — Greg Braggs Jr. (@GBraggsJr23) April 26, 2025 Frazier is one of the Freaks of the Draft. Ranks very well in the vast majority of athletic scores. Has the right size and athleticism to give himself a shot. — Irish Bears Network | Ciaran (@IrishBearsShow) April 26, 2025 The #Bears picks so far on day 3: Speed on the defensive side of the ball. — Zack Pearson (@Zack_Pearson) April 26, 2025 CB Zah Frazier is an older prospect who only had 1 year of starting experience at UTSA. But he has outstanding height and length and ran a blazing 4.36. Outside corner who probably needs to add some strength. — Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) April 26, 2025 Zah Frazier is a BALLER! Love that he is coming to Chicago!!!! — The other Derrick from Simeon 💙💛 (@ChiLottery) April 26, 2025 Zah Frazier is very interesting here for Chicago Older prospect, but you don't find many corners with the following: - 6'8' wingspan - 4.36 40 - 6 INTs this year - Pedestrian 35.8 passer rating when targeted Excited to see his career unfold. — Brady Balhorn - BNB Football (@BnbFootball) April 26, 2025 With the 169th pickthe Chicago Bears select Zah Frazier CB from UTSA. I like this pick 6'3 with ball skills. 6 INTS in 2024 — Chicago Football Connection (@CFCBears) April 26, 2025 Zah Frazier is an EXCELLENT pick. LOADS of talent. 6'3, 186lbs 4.37 - 40 -Elite ball skills -Secure tackler -Solid route recognition -Solid in run support — Caleb Williams Fan Club (@CalebFC18) April 26, 2025 Zah Frazier had a second round grade for us and has the profile to become a starting boundary corner in the NFL. One of our favorites pick in this draft. — Gridiron Grading (@GridironGrading) April 26, 2025 Zah Frazier is a freak of nature at corner. Fairly good in press coverage but needs to add a lot of bulk to fill out his 6-3 frame. — Erik Duerrwaechter (@EDuerrwaechter) April 26, 2025 In Zah Frazier, the #Bears got one of the most unique DB athletes on the 2025 class. At 6'3, Frazier ran a BLAZING 4.36 at the NFL combine, and that rare speed and movement ability shows up on film. He stood out all @ShrineBowl week long, with great timing, recognition, and… — Eric Galko (@EricGalko) April 26, 2025
USA Today
29-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
2025 NFL draft: New Orleans Saints paying close attention to UTSA cornerback prospect
2025 NFL draft: New Orleans Saints paying close attention to UTSA cornerback prospect The New Orleans Saints have had a few prospects on their list from the 2025 NFL draft class that they have shown increasing interest in. Between their three noted official 30 visits to some specific private workouts with players, they have been certainly doing their due diligence on this class to ensure they have a grasp of who they would like to select. One of the players they recently met with is UTSA cornerback Zah Frazier, and not only that, they were one of three teams to send either a coach or scout to specifically watch him. In a recent report by Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda, he clarified this information, stating the following information regarding the workout: "The Saints, Falcons, and San Francisco 49ers sent coaches and scouts specifically to watch Frazier, who has a fifth-round grade on my board." Frazier is an exceptionally fast cornerback with solid size and had an absolutely outstanding 2024 season in terms of production. Last year he put up 24 total tackles (20 solo, 4 assisted), 9 pass deflections, 1 forced fumble, 1 tackle for loss, and a whopping 6 interceptions. In his first two years at UTSA he had none, granted he only played five games in 2023, so that can be taken with a grain of salt. He ended up receiving an invite to the NFL Scouting Combine, and torched it, putting up a 9.43 RAS via Kent Lee Platte. This came on the back of a 4.36-second 40-yard dash and a 1.47-second 10-yard split, as well as an over 10-foot broad jump. The Saints no doubt have a strong need at the cornerback position, and adding quality players with positive traits to work with is the way to fix that. Frazier has shown a season of high-level production, and put up strong athletic testing, so he could be someone worth looking at for the Saints on Day 3 of the draft.
