It isn’t a question of if the Chicago Bears will draft a wide receiver this weekend, but when. Darnell Mooney is their only definitive option at the moment. Free agent addition Byron Pringle was never considered a huge get and is already in legal trouble before taking a snap. Beyond that, it gets even thinner with Equanimeous St. Brown and Dazz Newsome. This team needs at least one more option, if not two.
That is why expectations are high that they’ll grab a preferred target with one of their two 2nd round picks. What nobody can determine is who that might be. There are plenty of names experts project to be available around that time, but there seems to be a lack of certainty. Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network believes there is one name that has their attention. That is Cincinnati Bearcats standout, Alec Pierce.
“He tested incredibly well at the combine, timing 4.41 seconds in the 40 with an insanely fast 10-yard split of 1.46 seconds. Only two receivers, Skyy Moore (1.44) and Tyquan Thornton (1.41), had faster 10-yard splits at the combine. His vertical jump of 40.5 inches was tops for the receiver group in Indianapolis.
So who are the candidates for Pierce in Round 2? The Bears pick 48th and have shown a lot of interest in the wideout, as have the Green Bay Packers at pick 53. Don’t discount the Indianapolis Colts with the 42nd selection.”
Pierce is an interesting study.
His production wasn’t much to write home about during his first two active seasons in 2019 and 2020. Then last year, he had a minor breakout with 52 catches for 884 yards and eight touchdowns. The numbers won’t blow you away, but it’s the physical attributes that have the attention of scouts. Not only is Pierce 6’3, but he also showcases explosive athleticism both as a runner and jumper. So why isn’t he getting more buzz?
For all the flash, his tape had some red flags. The speed didn’t always show on the field. Good cornerbacks were able to stick with him. His route-running was limited and needs lots of work. He also doesn’t showcase much strength or quickness for running after the catch. So any team drafting Pierce would be gambling on his upside. If they can improve his route-running, he can become a legitimate NFL target.
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His dimensions are eerily similar to David Terrell and Kevin White, both in terms of size, speed, and iffy college production. Not the names Chicago Bears fans want to hear a guy compared to. One can only hope Pierce is different if he ends up their choice.
