While everyone talks about running back, offensive line, defensive line, tight end and possibly safety for the Bears with their four picks between 10-72, there is a position few discuss.
It would make complete sense for them considering what Ben Johnson’s history is with an offense, and that would be at wide receiver but slot receiver in particular.
As anyone can see, they didn’t sign slot receiver Keenan Allen back.
They brought in two veteran slot receiver types who haven’t exactly set the league on fire as pass catchers, although Devin Duvernay has done it as a return man. Slot acquisition Olamide Zaccheaus has never had more than 45 catches — former Bears slot receiver Anthony Miller did better than that with 52 and 49 catches his last two years before his career went down the drain with a playoff game ejection.
It might mean they have plans to alternate the spot.
“I think that’s to be determined, it’s a little bit different right now,” Johnson told reporters at the owners meetings. “Can DJ (Moore) play inside? I think he can, can Rome (Odunze) play inside? I think he can. Both those guys showed those traits last year on tape, to what degree? I don’t know yet, we have to hit the grass and see what they’re really capable of and what they do well. I feel really good about the two guys we brought in free agency and what they bring to the table.”
What’s the big deal? Why force both of their outside receivers to change up and go inside more? The offense has always required it.
“And it’s just naturally whether it was Jarvis Landry or Danny Amendola or (Amon-Ra) St. Brown the last two years there in Detroit, those guys were really the focal point of the passing game where I’ve been in the past.”
The smart money says Moore winds up handling a lot of their slot receiver assignments because he isn’t the prototypical 6-foot-3 outside X-receiver type with a 40-inch vertical. He’s at his best with the ball in his hands.
However, the Bears have been quietly looking at receivers to a large extent with their 30 visits and local visits. Those trips included Virginia Tech’s Jaylin Lane, Tulane’s Dontae Fleming, Mississippi State’s Kelly Akharaiyi, Notre Dame’s Beaux Collins, Mississippi’s Tre Harris, Texas’ Isaiah Bond and Washington State’s Kyle Williams.
If there is significance here, it is that they looked closely at more receivers than any other position except the offensive line, more than at tight end or running back. The list also includes receivers of all types but particularly some with great speed, like Bond, Lane, Akharaiyi and Williams.
Whatever they do, they could bring in a slot but the list looks more like they’re seeking out another Jameson Williams type and would convert Moore and/or Odunze to more slot catches.
The receivers are mostly for Day 2 and 3 in the draft, or even undrafted free agents.
Lane’s 4.34-second 40-yard time at the combine would definitely be of interest for the Bears, especially since Bond, who was reported to have run sub-4.3 at the Texas pro day, subsequently was arrested on a sexual assault warrant in Frisco, Texas, posted bail, and is denying the allegation.
Something else Johnson said about the offense could ring true here.
“It’s not going to look like it did in Detroit,” he said. “We have a completely different personnel group than what we did in Detroit. This entire offense is going to be predicated on the guys that we have available.”
Maybe it means finding a slot receiver to be the new St. Brown, or maybe it means Moore or Odunze splitting the duty with another receiver coming in with great speed to take potential coverage away from the slot.
Either way, don’t be surprised on Day 3, or even Day 2, if one of the names for the Bears is a wide receiver and here is a closer look at those they’ve looked closer at with visits.
Jaylin Lane, Virginia Tech
Made 203 catches for 2,532 yards and 18 TDs at Middle Tennessee State and Va Tech. He ran the 40 in 4.34 at the combine