GM Ryan Pace has a steady track record of producing strong results later in drafts. Several of his 4th and 5th round picks have gone on to become quality starters for the Chicago Bears. One area that hasn’t yet produced somebody of note is the 6th round. There is a strong possibility that could change after this year. One name that should generate more buzz than it has is Dazz Newsome.
It’s not hard to understand why the kid is overlooked. He went to a primarily basketball school in North Carolina and wasn’t considered the #1 receiver while he was there. That distinction went to teammate Dyami Brown who was taken by Washington in the 3rd round. It also didn’t help that he ran a pedestrian 4.56 in the 40-yard dash at his pro day. Yet this should not discount what Newsome accomplished. Or how good he looks on tape.
All he did was produce.
In two seasons as a starter for the Tarheels, he amassed 126 catches for 1,702 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also averaged 11.1 yards per punt return for his college career. One thing that continued to stand out about him? Newsome had a flair for making dramatic catches. Grabs that made people jump out of their seats in disbelief. None were better than this slice of insanity against Duke.
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Making a catch with a defender draped on you is one thing. Making the catch with the ball literally pressed up against the defender himself? That is next-level stuff. It also isn’t something that shocks North Carolina fans. Newsome developed a reputation for such things all the time. Even when it looked like he was covered, he’d find a way to make the catch. Guys like that tend to find their way onto the field.
Dazz Newsome could be arriving at the perfect time
The situation at wide receiver is in flux for the Bears. Allen Robinson remains on the roster but with no security beyond 2021. Anthony Miller is on the trade block while Riley Ridley and Javon Wims haven’t shown much in their opportunities. With such uncertainty at the position, it’s a prime opportunity for a young player to come in and make some noise. Newsome has the sort of versatility that head coach Matt Nagy covets.
Somebody who fill that role Taylor Gabriel did in 2018 and 2019 where he’s moved around all over the field, finding creative ways to get the ball in his hands. Dazz Newsome is at his best after the catch. Somebody who runs with urgency and vision. If he can master his route-running a little more, then the Bears really do have something.
Maybe fans will get a taste of those types of catches in the future.
As for Miller? His status remains up in the air. It’s been two months since reports first surfaced that Chicago was shopping him. Have they changed their minds? Perhaps GM Ryan Pace is waiting for the right offer. He’s made deals late in the offseason before. If Miller is indeed gone, then Newsome becomes a threat to play in the slot.
