Let’s just get this out of the way before Bears fans riot with protest. Tarik Cohen is not going to fill the Tyreek Hill profile. This is because they’re two different players. Hill is primarily a wide receiver. Cohen is primarily a running back. A better role one should envision him in is a far more dangerous version of Charcandrick West. What head coach Matt Nagy wants is a versatile receiving weapon like Hill.
Right now the Bears have nothing to resemble that. Nobody with his athleticism and definitely nobody with his speed. So it stands to reason Nagy will want to seek out somebody of similar style. It will make his offense that much more diverse and explosive. It’s a matter of where to find it.
The odds don’t favor one is available via free agency or trade. NFL teams don’t typically have a policy of letting such receivers go if they can help it. So that means they may have to focus on the draft. Combing through the list of potential names Nagy might zero in on, one that fits the Hill profile better than most is, ironically, a former favorite target of ex-pupil Patrick Mahomes.
Matt Nagy will see loads of Hill in Keke Coutee
Keke Coutee isn’t going to garner early round consideration. That’s due in large part to being undersized, a bit on the thin side and playing an offense that tends to inflate a receivers’ production. Then again Coutee certainly didn’t regress after losing Mahomes to the NFL. With Mahomes, he had 890 yards and seven touchdowns in 2016. Without him, he had 1,429 yards and 10 touchdowns. The kid isn’t a system talent.
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It terms of size and body type, he is much like Hill. He’s the same height at 5’11” and only five pounds lighter. Watch him for long enough on tape and one would swear you could put them side by side and it’s the same guy. Coutee isn’t a one trick pony. He can do so many things well. He’s quick and agile with his route running, able to create separation at will.
Coutee has the ability to operate as a "traditional" slot WR, threatening DB's underneath
Inside release gets DB to jump back inside to maintain leverage. Coutee keeps his footwork tight and eyes upfield, keeping the DB back on his heels
Hands catch. Stiff arm.
Peep those #'s 👀 pic.twitter.com/9vvYksiDj5— Brad Kelly (@BradKelly17) February 15, 2018
He’s so nimble and quick after the catch. The stop-start ability, the acceleration, and the vision all make it hard for defenders to even get a hand on him.
I understand Keke Coutee is only 5'9", but this is just stupid lol. pic.twitter.com/kOMbEDOXQF
— Cagen Cantrell (@CeeingTheDraft) February 13, 2018
At the end of the day though, everybody wants to see the speed. Can he take the top off a defense? Coutee laughs at this statement. Not only can he beat them deep, he does it with alarming regularity and can create massive separation at times.
Here's a look at Coutee's speed. pic.twitter.com/169OSSm2cc
— Jared Stanger (@JaredStanger) February 12, 2018
Much of where Coutee goes in the draft will depend on his performance at the scouting combine in Indianapolis. If he runs fast as all expect him to, he could go somewhere on Day 2 in the second or third rounds. He could also slip in the fourth round too. One thing is for sure. There’s no doubt his addition to the Bears receiving corps would create instant big-play opportunities where there were none last year.
