Chicago Bears (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
If the Chicago Bears are looking to add a wide receiver early in the draft, they could have some terrific options.
While, at first blush, you may not think of wide receiver as a big need for the Chicago Bears, a more in-depth look at the position suggests they would be wise to invest in the position through the 2020 NFL Draft. If they do, there are three intriguing options who could be available in the range within which the Bears will select in Round 2.
It would be great if the Bears extended Allen Robinson, whose deal expires after this season, but to date, they have not. Cordarrelle Patterson‘s deal also expires after next season, followed closely by Anthony Miller, whose contract is up after the 2021 season. After that, the team has just Riley Ridley and Javon Wims as viable options at the position. In other words, it appears to be a need, and if the Bears address it in the draft, these three players would be ones to target.
KJ Hamler
The Bears chose to let Taylor Gabriel walk in free agency, rather than attempting to -re-sign the diminutive but speedy wide receiver. If they are looking for a much more cost-effective replacement with more upside, they could look to Penn State’s KJ Hamler.
At 5-foot-9 and just 178 pounds, he is not going to outmuscle defensive backs. Hamler would be a guy to bring in for the primary purpose of stretching the field and taking the top off the defense with his blazing speed. He’s a guy that Matt Nagy would enjoy lining up in the slot and having him route different route combinations and double moves to get open deep down the field. He may not be the big-bodied wide receiver some fans might want, but he’d be an exciting one to watch.
Chase Claypool
On the opposite end of the size-spectrum, is the University of Notre Dame’s Chase Claypool. Claypool is 6-foot-4 and weighs 238 pounds. However, despite being a monster, he still boasts a 40.5 inch vertical and ran a remarkable 4.42 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine.
Claypool is so intriguing for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is his versatility. He could conceivably line up as a tight end in addition to wide receiver. All he would need to do is put on a little bit of weight, which should not take away too much of his athleticism. If he did, he could present impossible mismatches — too fast for linebackers and too big for defensive backs. While the Bears would likely be looking at Claypool in a “trade-back” scenario, he would be another exciting toy for coach Nagy.
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Denzel Mims
Last, but certainly not least, is Baylor University’s, Denzel Mims. Perhaps if you took a little Claypool and sprinkled in a touch of Hamler, you would get Denzel Mims. The 6-foot-3, 207-pound wide receiver ran a very impressive 4.38 40-yard dash at the Combine.
He has an outstanding catch radius and seems to shine on 50-50 balls. Mims would be an asset in the deep passing game, as someone to whom a quarterback would feel comfortable throwing it up. As is the case with many young receivers, he will have to sharpen his route running skills but could be a home run if given some time to develop and learn from an exceptional route-runner like Robinson.