For the past two years, people have wondered why the Chicago Bears haven’t given Tyler Scott more opportunities. There was lots of excitement around the former fourth-round pick when he was drafted out of Cincinnati. There were flashes at times in 2023, but he completely vanished from the lineup last season after Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze arrived. Scott tried to make a go of it on special teams as a returner. That didn’t pan out, either. Now he is stuck in limbo, and the Bears continue their search for the vertical threat they’d hoped he would become.
It isn’t a secret that head coach Ben Johnson loved speed. That was proven many times during his run with the Detroit Lions. If he doesn’t believe Scott can fill that role, and there is no evidence he should, then it makes sense the Bears would go hunting for a replacement in the draft. Arye Pulli revealed on Twitter (X) that the team met with one such solution: Washington State receiver Kyle Williams.
Williams has certain qualities Tyler Scott lacks.
While both have significant vertical speed, the WSU standout adds a layer to it by being dangerous after the catch. Johnson loves players who can make things happen with the ball in their hands. It was true of Jameson Williams and Amon-Ra St. Brown. It isn’t surprising he’d be attracted to Williams. He averaged 17.1 yards per reception in 2024, and lots of that came from his ability to extend players after the catch. Tyler Scott never had those abilities. Williams needs work on his route-running, having not been asked to do much inside Washington State’s offense. The big sticking point is his hands. They aren’t known for being reliable. He will be a feast-or-famine receiver. If the Bears are willing to live with that, expect him to be a target on Day 3.
If you are a rational GM and you want to draft WRs, should you not make sure they have good hands to catch the football first and foremost? If yes, then how do you explain Scott and Velus? Especially during a critical rebuild when every draft pick should really count.
I read his prospect eval and he doesn’t have much of a route-running tree. LOTS of development ahead like Velus.
NEXT!
Nope. Won’t happen. Move on.
The clips show him reaching up and then not catching with his hands. He uses his body even on catches that should be made with the hands. This is not an NFL starter. Pass.
Who in the hell selected him to begin with for the Bears? Get rid of him, gently. Don’t bring Velus back. Two extremely costly mistakes.