There will be plenty of work for Chicago Bears GM Ryan Pace going into 2018. It’s quite possible he may be hiring a new head coach. John Fox hasn’t won back-to-back games since 2015 and hasn’t won a game period since last December. The man is 9-25 running this franchise. He’s on his last legs with hope dwindling. Pace no doubt may already be thinking about the future. Of course it’s not just the head coach he’s focused on though.
Another big problem the Bears have is at the wide receiver position. In a word it’s decimated. Brandon Marshall was traded. Alshon Jeffery left in free agency. Cameron Meredith and Kevin White are done for the year with injuries. When Kendall Wright, Josh Bellamy and Deonte Thompson are the top three guys you have a serious problem.
With Mitch Trubisky right around the corner it’s imperative this team load up on weapons for the young quarterback to thrive. Odds are Pace will have designs on selecting a wide receiver early in the 2018 draft. It’s his good fortune that the class appears to have some considerable talent in play. So who will the Bears target?
Here are some names to watch carefully.
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WR draft targets Bears GM Ryan Pace will pinpoint
Courtland Sutton (SMU)
People might scoff at the fact that Sutton comes out of SMU, which is a smaller program. Nothing compared to what it was in the early 1980s. However, they might be surprised to find out Pro Bowl receiver Emmanuel Sanders came from there. Sutton may be even more talented. At 6’3″ he has that coveted size teams like in receivers along with a good mix of speed and quickness.
He’s also a danger in the open field, demonstrating an ability to run after the catch. Not easy to tackle. To top it off he’s demonstrated on several occasions to be a major threat in the red zone. In three seasons he has 136 catches for 2,313 yards and 24 touchdowns.
Well, @realCoachG & #TCU #Deadboltmobb will be tested by this 👀💥guy @SuttonCourtland (lw 163 y/4tds) & the #SMU WRs.pic.twitter.com/uUs71V8rwf
— Terry Beaudine (@TerryBeaudine) September 11, 2017
Calvin Ridley (Alabama)
Many are calling him the next Amari Cooper. Watch Ridley for a few minutes and it’s easy to see why. Like his fellow Alabama alum, the kid has decent size at 6’1″ to go along with game-breaking speed and quickness. He creates matchup problems for a secondary, especially in the hands of a creative offensive play caller.
The reason he hasn’t achieved the same results as Cooper to this point is largely the Alabama quarterback issues. After having Jake Coker for a year in 2015, during which he had over 1,000 yards, he’s been saddled with Jalen Hurts who is far from a polished passer. Hopefully the Bears will overlook that because Ridley can play.
Equanimeous St. Brown (Notre Dame)
Pace deserved some criticism for drafting Kevin White. Not because of the injuries or the talent. He had no control over the former and everybody agreed about the latter. The problem was he spent a top 10 pick on a player who was a project in terms of readiness. His route running was as raw as could be. Smart money says the GM will show he learned that lesson well.
St. Brown will be a prime target not only because he’s every bit of 6’4″ with long arms and the speed to create separation. What sets him apart from a lot of receivers in this upcoming class is his route running. He’s already fairly polished in that regard, able to get in and out of his breaks without losing acceleration. It’s a big reason he’s averaging 16.2 yards per catch in college.
Equanimeous St Brown makes a great adjustment for a TD. pic.twitter.com/EUD7CxGAsL
— Eric Elizondo (@EricElizondo8) September 2, 2017
Christian Kirk (Texas A&M)
Another wide receiver saddled with QB issues. Kirk is being considered by many as a downsized version of Odell Beckham Jr. Though just 5’11” the kid is electric on the field. He’s got quickness, agility and speed for days. In 2016 alone he had 968 receiving yards, 282 punt return yards and scored 12 touchdowns. Three of those were returns.
Suffice to say the kid makes things happen with the ball in his hands. Of course the big question will be can he get himself open against physical NFL defensive backs. He’s got route running prowess and the fact UCLA sent double coverage at him all night earlier this year is a surefire sign of respect.
James Washington (Oklahoma State)
Stop if you’ve heard the phrase, “Plays bigger than he is” before. That is the definition of Washington. He’s not small in any respects at 6’0″ but he plays like he’s 6’5″. Put the ball up in the air and it doesn’t matter who’s covering him or how many defenders. He will find a way to come down with it because that ball belongs to him.
Washington will be pigeonholed by a lot of a people as a deep threat. Sure because he’s shorter and fast that’s bound to happen. Of course it’s not the case. He does a lot more than just run the vertical route. Many a time he’s shown an ability to go over the middle and make those tough catches for first downs. His 165 catches and 29 touchdowns prove that much.
James Washington showing strong hands with DB draped all over him, makes a guy miss directly after for RAC pic.twitter.com/UBTKBNq2gE
— Ty Wurth (@WurthDraft) September 20, 2017
Simmie Cobbs Jr. (Indiana)
Missing 2016 with injury, a lot of people weren’t sure what to make of Simmie Cobbs. On tape they saw a talented 6’4″ receiver who knew exactly how to use his big body to maximum advantage. Never mind his underrated route running that allowed him to consistently beat cornerbacks off the line. He showed that in 2015 but an ankle injury stunted his progress last year.
Seems the rust factor wasn’t an issue though. Cobbs picked up right where he left off by dominating Ohio State for 149 yards and a touchdown in the season opener. That’s proof positive he could own future NFL defensive backs in a high-stakes contest. Now imagine what happens when he gets a real quarterback.
