It isn’t a question of if the Chicago Bears will draft a wide receiver later this month. It is when. They hold six total picks and three in the 2nd and 3rd rounds. Considering what GM Ryan Poles has done at the position thus far, it feels like a virtual guarantee at least one pass-catcher will be selected. What fans aren’t sure about is who that player will end up being. There are plenty of possibilities, but the Bears, per usual, have kept their intentions close to the vest.
The only thing to do in these situations is to consult the experts. Maybe they can help discern who might be the best fit for a team’s offense. That is exactly what Matt Bowen of ESPN did. He did a column running through all the top receivers in the upcoming draft and determining where they might get selected and which teams are the best fits for them. When the Bears came up, he felt he had the perfect one in mind.
Alec Pierce of Cincinnati.
“Where the Bears could get him: Round 3 (No. 71)
Why he fits: The Bears added veteran wideouts Byron Pringle and Equanimeous St. Brown through free agency to pair with Darnell Mooney, but I see a need here to boost a talent-deficient offense around quarterback Justin Fields. And into Round 3, Pierce would give them some alignment flexibility as a big target who is at his best on the move, running verticals, overs, crossers and speed outs. He’s long and has the play strength, leaping ability and 4.41 40 speed to fit in Luke Getsy’s system as a vertical/intermediate threat on the boundary or as a No. 2 or 3 in trips.”
Poles said he wanted more speed in this offense. Pierce checks that box and proved it several times for the Bearcats. He was their primary playmaker in the passing game last year en route to the College Football Playoffs. His season finished with 884 yards (17 per catch) and eight touchdowns. While the route-running and fundamentals need work, the talent is undeniable. The story would get even better too.
Pierce is an Illinois kid. He was born in Glen Ellyn less than an hour west of Chicago. He happened to attend the same high school as Bowen. It would be a cool subplot to see a hometown boy returning to help his childhood team return to relevance. It would also create a unique scenario considering Cole Kmet is also a local guy. That would be something this franchise hasn’t seen, maybe ever.
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Pierce is a worthwhile risk for the Chicago Bears.
His skills are of a 1st round caliber. So getting him in the 3rd can be seen as an acceptable risk given the concerns with his overall game. He’d also bring a dimension the Bears don’t have at the moment. Size. Their two top receivers, Darnell Mooney and Byron Pringle are both 6’1 or under. Not only is Pierce 6’3, but he also boasts 33-inch arms. His catch radius is impressive, as shown when he always seems to outbattle defenders for the ball in 50-50 situations.
The Chicago Bears didn’t have somebody like that last season. He could end up being that red zone threat they’re missing. As always, it comes down to how the draft unfolds. Some insiders believe a run on receivers could happen early with as many as eight players going in the 1st round. That would put Poles in a tricky spot. He needs targets for his QB, but he also doesn’t want to be forced into reaching for one.
Would he take Pierce in the 2nd round instead of the 3rd?
Only he can answer that question. Either way, the Cincinnati standout has plenty of qualities to like. It is difficult to tell how high his ceiling is. He could be another looks-like-Tarzan-plays-like-Jane guy in the NFL. Or he could be the second coming of Jordy Nelson. Much of that depends on how he expands his game.
