The Chicago Bears seem to have a set of clear needs going into the 2019 NFL draft. None of them could be considered pressing at this point. Running back leads the way following the trade of Jordan Howard to Philadelphia. That is followed by secondary and edge rusher depth. Not to mention the ongoing kicker situation.

Then again, what fans and media perceive as team needs and what the actual team sees as needs can sometimes be quite different. One interesting developed revealed as much. Jace Sternberger, a tight end out of Texas A&M revealed on his Instagram that he had arrived at O’Hare Airport. Simple deduction says he’s planning to have a visit with the Bears.

This is an interesting situation. Sternberger is considered one of the better tight ends in this class. A big pass target who runs good routes and displays strong hands. It suggests that perhaps Matt Nagy and Ryan Pace aren’t completely sold on their tight end room as some might think.

Jace Sternberger is in Chicago according to his IG. Assuming that’ll be a visit with the Bears by tomorrow. He was visiting the Bills yesterday. pic.twitter.com/c0AHoYhbmV — Russell Brown (@RussNFLDraft) April 10, 2019

Jace Sternberger would give Bears insurance for Trey Burton and Adam Shaheen

It’s not a surprise they would feel this way. Trey Burton and Adam Shaheen were supposed to be a dynamic duo of sorts in 2018. Their work in training camp seemed to suggest things were headed that way. Then Shaheen got injured and missed most of the season.

Burton had some nice moments but then suffered an untimely groin “lock up” when faced with the idea of playing his former team the Eagles. Something a lot of fans find highly suspicious. Either way, neither of them delivered on their full potential.

Given how important the tight end position is to the Nagy offense (see Travis Kelce in 2016 and 2017), it makes sense he’d seek out some insurance in case those two can’t deliver again this year. Sternberger had 48 catches 832 yards and 10 touchdowns last year for A&M. He was their best receiver in both categories by a wide margin.