The Sports Xchange

Jameis Winston is scheduled for a pre-draft visit with the Chicago Bears on Wednesday.

ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter first reported the FSU quarterback would fly to Chicago for the meeting Wednesday, 15 days before he is expected to be the first player drafted in the 2015 NFL Draft.

Chicago previously met with Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota.

The Bears own the seventh pick in the draft and despite public commitment to quarterback Jay Cutler – a decision driven in some part by the albatross contract Cutler signed in 2014 while the team was under the control of GM Phil Emery and head coach Marc Trestman – new general manager Ryan Pace and head coach John Fox are keeping their options open.

The idea of the Bears getting either player starts with how they could move up. If Winston goes first overall to the QB-needy Buccaneers, the Bears would be in stiff competition with other teams that covet Mariota, including the Cleveland Browns (who pick 12th and 19th) and New York Jets (sixth).

If Winston is somehow on the board third or fourth overall, the Bears could open trade talks with the Jacksonville Jaguars with running back Matt Forte and the seventh overall pick. Forte is skipping offseason workouts and hopeful of a new deal. The Jaguars need a bell-cow back after kicking the tires on DeMarco Murray in free agency. Chicago could attempt to replace Forte in one of the deepest running back draft pools in at least a decade.

The San Diego Chargers took a close-up inspection of Mariota on Tuesday. Mariota is not expected to be on the board at No. 17, where the Chargers are scheduled to draft. But Philip Rivers, 33, is reportedly icy on the idea of playing in Los Angeles should the franchise relocate next season due to stadium strife.

The widely speculated deal involving San Diego and the Tennessee Titans, who pick second overall, could set the stage for draft-day drama. The Titans, coached by Rivers’ former offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt, could add Rivers and still be in position to get a top-20 talent in this draft.