The Cincinnati Bengals might’ve set a precedent with how they operated in the most recent 2021 offseason. Everybody begged the team to focus their resources on building Joe Burrow’s offensive line. Instead, they spent their 5th overall pick on wide receiver JaMarr Chase. Experts called them crazy. Now the Bengals are in the Super Bowl. So while protection is important, teams might be starting to think weaponry is more vital to the success of a young quarterback. Perhaps the Chicago Bears will reach a similar conclusion with Justin Fields.
It isn’t a secret the receiving corps was a major disappointment in 2021. Outside of Darnell Mooney who had over 1,000 yards, everybody else on the roster failed to crack 500. Guys weren’t open enough and when they were they had a bad tendency to drop the ball too often. This includes Allen Robinson. Many expect an overhaul to come under new GM Ryan Poles. ESPN draft expert Jordan Reid is among them. In his recent mock draft, he bypassed some promising blocking talent in favor of a dynamic receiving weapon.
“David Bell, WR, Purdue
New general manager Ryan Poles has his work cut out at the receiver position, with only Darnell Mooney under contract next season. Bell, who had 93 catches for 1,286 yards last season, is a smooth route runner with consistent hands. He proved over the past two seasons that he can be counted upon as a go-to option in the passing game. Bell doesn’t have outstanding speed, but he executes the details on his route stems and has a knack for finishing catches at the catch point. Chicago doesn’t have a first-round pick, which means it needs to hit on this one.”
Bell was a consistent menace at Purdue.
In 29 career games dating back to 2019, he amassed 2,946 yards receiving and 21 touchdowns. People kept hammering him for his lack of blazing speed but that didn’t seem to matter. He kept getting open regardless. A big reason for that was his remarkable polish as a route runner. It is evident the young receiver takes his craft seriously. He ran a variety of different routes in college and understands how to beat almost any coverage with consistency.
People will question whether he has the upside to be a genuine #1 wide receiver. That will make it easy to miss the reality. Bell will be a good football player in the NFL for a long time. The tape makes that pretty clear. The Bears have to stockpile more good players on offense for Justin Fields. This kid fits that description. If they do end up landing him two months from now, that should be considered a win for their new GM.
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Much of this will depend on what Poles does in free agency. It is possible he may decide to focus on wide receiver there, paving the way for him to make over the offensive line in the draft. Something he proved quite good at during his time in Kansas City.
