The Chicago Bears have several needs going into the 2023 off-season. Most conversations start with the offensive and defensive lines, but there is always the loud group of fans who quickly point out wide receiver. That isn’t a surprise when your young quarterback barely managed 2200 passing yards this past season. It is obvious the Bears need to get Justin Fields more weapons. Darnell Mooney is fine, and they still have high hopes for Chase Claypool. Even so, another piece must be found. Thankfully Luke Getsy has a big opportunity in front of him.
The offensive coordinator will coach the American squad at the Senior Bowl this year. That means he’ll work with some of the best draft prospects in the country. Recently a list of wide receivers he’ll coach was revealed. It is an exciting group with plenty of potential. Here is a rundown of who they are and what they could offer the Bears. Don’t forget Getsy is a former wide receivers coach. He knows the position well.
Luke Getsy has some fascinating talent to work with.
Rashee Rice (SMU)
Probably the highest-graded receiver at the entire Senior Bowl. Most expect Rice to be a 2nd round pick. He can change that with a great week in Mobile. Rice has a nice blend of size, athleticism, and route-running skills. He’s smooth in everything he does and attacks the football in the air.
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Dontayvion Wicks (Virginia)
A good mix of size, speed, body control, and toughness. Wicks can make difficult catches look routine when he’s hot. He was terrific in 2021 but regressed last year. It’s hard to know if he was the problem or a new scheme and quarterback. There are also some concerns about inconsistent hands. This event is significant for him.
Xavier Hutchinson (Iowa State)
You want to see a player improve steadily in college. Hutchinson did precisely that. His yards and TDs went up every year for the Cyclones. He’s not blazing fast but has enough juice combined with 6’3 size, good quickness, and excellent body control to make him a matchup problem for smart coaches.
Andre Iosivas (Princeton)
A former track star. The first thing that stands out is speed. He can fly. We’re talking likely low 4.3 or high 4.2 range. He couples this with a 6’3 frame and the ability to run routes without losing that speed. His talent is exciting. What people don’t know is if he can show it against non-Ivy League competition.
Derius Davis (TCU)
Quentin Johnston got all the attention at TCU. It was easy to miss how valuable Davis was to their playoff run. Not only did he have 500 yards and five touchdowns receiving, but he also had a rushing touchdown, 572 kick return yards, and two punt return scores. His short and skinny (5’9, 168 lbs), but the guy makes plays.
Jonathan Mingo (Ole Miss)
Size, hands, and strength are the focal points of his game. He’s good at winning against tight coverage and can run after the catch. The concerns lay with his lack of vertical speed and his uninspired route running. That is why this coming week in mobile will be crucial for him.
Jalen Wayne (South Alabama)
Luke Getsy will probably get visions of Velus Jones when watching Wayne. He has similar size and a similar playing style. His level of talent isn’t the same. The speed is okay but not elite. Like Jones, he is on the older side with only one decent year of production. Maybe different coaching might unlock more.
A #1 WR should already be obvious. Chase for example was an obvious choice. yet the Miami Dolphins stupidly traded down thinking the 165 pound Waddle would suffice. And guess what happened? Chase is a star and Waddle is butterfingers. This was not rocket science. It was very easy to see. Chase played like a man among boys through college and Waddle was on a committee and boated high speed. Both first round picks but the drafting competence vs incompetence was astonishing.
Dave…and Dean….all depends on who is available in FA and who Poles will sign. We already know that he does not want any old timers (28 and above) unless he has to.. because he is trying to build a team. He also won’t give away the kitchen sink for one player. My take is that Poles will try to fill the need for both lines if he can and if the talent is there for the right price. I still fully expect Poles to pick a lineman (offense or defense) in the 1st round of the draft depending on best… Read more »
A WR is absolutely a position they should look at in the second round. The Bears could easily get 2 DL and 2 or 3 OL in FA and then draft another “trench” guy with their first pick. With $120M and likely a ton of picks we have the ability to not only build the trenches but add some skill position players as well. Remember FA starts over a month prior to the draft. The bigger names will be signed well before the draft starts. After most of FA is completed we will have a better idea of what players… Read more »
I still think the Bears should focus more on the trenches. That’s the only reason I’m not enamored of Rice. Not for a high 2 anyway. Any other year, yeah. But not now. I’d rather take a chance on someone like Marvin Mims if he’s still around in the 3rd or 4th round. One guy I’ll look at closely is the kid from Princeton, Andei Iosivas. 6’3″ with 4.3 speed? If we can get him very late in the draft or even UDFA? Hey, why not? Gary Fencik was from an Ivy League school and he turned out to be… Read more »