Ryan Poles knew he had to make some deals at the trade deadline last year. The Chicago Bears weren’t going anywhere. The smart thing to do was unload veterans they didn’t see having a future with. That is how they reached the decision to send veteran pass rusher Robert Quinn to Philadelphia for a 4th round pick. It was smart, but Poles probably didn’t have grand aspirations. He merely saw it as acquiring a future asset he might find use for the next off-season. Nobody can predict what happens with picks that late in the draft. Fast forward to April, that selection became Cincinnati wide receiver Tyler Scott.
Draft experts were surprised by that. Not that the Bears took him, mind you. It was that Scott was available at all. Many had him projected going somewhere in the 2nd or 3rd round. His skillset flashed loads of potential, and he had a breakout season despite the departure of star quarterback Desmond Ridder the previous year. Scott wasn’t happy with how the draft unfolded. He felt lied to by several teams. The fact he landed in Chicago, one he’d hoped to end up with, was a blessing. He also arrived with a chip on his shoulder.
Since then, the rookie has progressed far more rapidly than anyone predicted.
Tyler Scott is surprising the Bears in unexpected ways.
They knew they were getting a player with game-breaking speed. It was one of the reasons he was high on their board. His agility and quickness as a route runner have also stood out. Where he has coaches buzzing is how fast he’s learning. His ability to absorb information and then translate it into action is rare for a rookie. It was on display early in camp. Scott didn’t enjoy his first matchup against veteran cornerback Jaylon Johnson who smothered him in coverage. Something needed to change. So Scott learned the concept of acting. He had to run every route the exact same way. This would ensure the corner couldn’t identify how it would unfold until too late.
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Tyler Scott deployed it in another matchup with Johnson a few practices later. The play led to a big gain and a 1st down. It sounds like his ability to beat the Bears’ best corners has become a regular routine for the rookie. Everybody felt Velus Jones was the favorite for that #4 wide receiver spot on the depth chart behind D.J. Moore, Chase Claypool, and Darnell Mooney. There is a strong argument that the job is quickly going to Scott instead, and he may demand even more work if this trend continues.
