The Chicago Bears know they have an opportunity to get back onto the NFC playoff scene in 2018. This is thanks in large part to their last two drafts which have produced a bevy of quality talent. Leonard Floyd, Jordan Howard, Cody Whitehair, Eddie Jackson, Tarik Cohen, Adam Shaheen and Mitch Trubisky have formed the making of a foundation that GM Ryan Pace can build into something special.
Like he’s said many times in the past though, he’ll have to keep stacking good drafts together. That’s the only way the Bears will be able to overcome what is looking like a stacked conference to finally end their playoff drought. Nothing determines the direction of a draft more than who the first pick is.
While many things can change over the course of the next few months, it’s never too early to seek out that one player who could give them that final push they need. Top draft analyst Todd McShay seemed to have an idea of where they should focus their efforts. He explained why in his first official mock draft of this season.
Chicago Bears must zero in on a wide receiver without hesitation
It’s no secret that the Bears need to overhaul their receiver position. Simply possessing the #32 passing offense in the NFL is confirmation of that. The question going into 2018 is how do they do that? McShay has a simple solution.
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8. Chicago Bears
Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
Mitchell Trubisky has had an inconsistent rookie campaign, but the Bears have been plagued by injuries at the wide receiver position in recent years. Ridley is the clear top wideout in this class, with outstanding foot speed and good acceleration. He has averaged 16.2 yards per catch this season, but his stats in Alabama’s run-heavy offense don’t reflect his true talent.
Ridley is much like another former Alabama standout in Amari Cooper. The speed, the athleticism, the size and strong hands are all there. That Ridley has managed to be so productive in an almost pure running offense is a testament to his skills. He’s not thrown to a lot, but when he is good things tend to happen.
For a Bears team that features a loaded ground attack led by Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohen, having a big play threat like Ridley would not be a bad thing at all. The issue at hand will be whether they can avoid taking a pass rusher given how riddled with problems that position has become due to age and injuries.
