Draft Prospects: WR

[wab]

This was interesting to me... really surprised to see MHJ so high on this list. FWIW - the median drop rate was 5.6 among the 100 most targeted players in the FBS for 2023.

[UOK]

Good reference point:

[wab]

Good reference point:

Kinda tracks with what we saw out of the rookie class, with the exception of Rashee Rice - who didn't have much of a QB to work with at SMU (even though he managed almost 1400 yards).

[Ditka’s dictaphone]

Johnny Wilson is too tall to catch all the throws.

[dplank]

I read one quote that now makes me really want Nabers…it said something to the effect of “Nabers plays at a speed that DBs can’t match” - made him sound like Tyreke Hill

[wab]

Johnny Wilson is too tall to catch all the throws.

He really should embrace the move to TE, but he's flat out refused so far.

[UOK]

Johnny Wilson is too tall to catch all the throws.

Johnny Wilson sounds like a name out of the 1930s or 40s. I feel like he should have a solid nickname that doesn't make sense like Johnny "Six Hams" Wilson, or Johnny Slicks

[wab]

If the Bears can't land Nabors or Odunze at 9, I'm leaning towards a small trade back and picking Adonai Mitchell. I get big CeeDee Lamb vibes from that dude.

[Rusty Trombagent]

Good reference point:

Slightly off topic, but I would KILL to be a fly on a wall in the room when Bill Belichick is evaluating WR prospects.

[Moriarty]

Good reference point:

Slightly off topic, but I would KILL to be a fly on a wall in the room when Bill Belichick is evaluating WR prospects.

UOK edit: Nah, let's not

[wulfy]

They really need to draft two starting caliber WRs this year (or sign one in FA). The depth chart goes DJ Moore (looooooong pause), Tyler Scott, Velus Jones Jr.

I'm great with any of the Big 3 WRs at 9 (obviously Harrison won't be there) - I'd prefer Nabors and then Odunze.

What really intrigues me are the slot WRs in the second round and beyond: Ladd McConkey, Ricky Pearsall, Roman Wilson (who had a great Senior Bowl week).

The two free agents I like for the slot are the Lions Josh Reynolds (he'll see free agency with the Lions needing to carve our a role for Jameson Williams) and the Commander's Curtis Samuel (but I suspect he'll be looking for bigger money).

[Rusty Trombagent]

Slightly off topic, but I would KILL to be a fly on a wall in the room when Bill Belichick is evaluating WR prospects.

UOK edit: Nah, let's not

FOR REAL THOUGH, his blindspot for WR's is fascinating. Just been terrible at it forever. Two years ago he drafted Tyquan Thornton, a dude who basically had 4.2 speed and somehow ZERO YAC to show for it over his entire college career, and guess what? He fucking sucks.

So he follows that up by drafting the guy who's head and shoulders above every other wr prospect... in drop rate. He's 5 points worse than Quentin Johnston, who the consensus was "If he ever learns how to catch a football, WATCH OUT!"

There's gotta be some kind of method to Belichick's madness when it comes to evaluating WR's. It's a horrible method that does not work even a little bit, and I want to learn all about it.

[Rusty Trombagent]

[cblaz11]

I love MHJ but I’ll say it again, if he checks out between the ears, I like Nabors more.

Not a fan of Rome…just seems stiff and I don’t see the separation.

I think the people who are wanting a WR in the 1st are going to be disappointed…this drafts loaded at WR and I see Poles waiting. I could see a trade back into the 2nd for a guy like Coleman from FSU..or the Michigan WR in the 3rd.

[wab]

I think the people who are wanting a WR in the 1st are going to be disappointed…this drafts loaded at WR and I see Poles waiting. I could see a trade back into the 2nd for a guy like Coleman from FSU..or the Michigan WR in the 3rd.

Yeah, I agree. If he can get a 2nd rounder in a trade down, I think that's where he targets WR because I feel like there's going to be a pretty big run on them between picks 30-60.

[Bears Whiskey Nut]

So many good WR's. I'm guessing that Brian Thomas Jr. Makes his way into the 1st round after the combine.

[thunderspirit]

Thomas has the physical talent to be a first rounder.

I question his lack of production before his age 21 season, but then Xavier Legette had the same issue and at an older age, so what do I know? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.

[crueltyabc]

My current WR fantasy is Malik Nabers at 1.9 and AD Mitchell at 2.X (the 2nd they get for Fields).

[Ditka’s dictaphone]

Xavier Worthy
Xavier Legatte
Malachi Corley
Roman Wilson

[Rusty Trombagent]

The player tracking data as it applies to Puka Nacua and Keon Coleman is pretty fascinating.

[thunderspirit]

I read a comparison on Coleman to Allen Robinson. Obviously we don't have agility drills to compare, but it's an apt comparison. Dude looks natural catching the ball.

[wulfy]

I read a comparison on Coleman to Allen Robinson. Obviously we don't have agility drills to compare, but it's an apt comparison. Dude looks natural catching the ball.

Coleman ran a 4.61 and Allen Robinson ran a 4.60

[RichH55]

Im surprised Robinson's RAS was that high

[wulfy]

He jumped pretty well and has good size.

I knew he was slow, but I didn't know he was 4.6 slow. Route running can go a long way - Anquan Bolden ran a 4.71 - he might not get drafted today.

[crueltyabc]

There are so many good ones I've been doing mocks where I draft 2 or 3.

[Moriarty]

There are so many good ones I've been doing mocks where I draft 2 or 3.

Yeah, I usually stop myself at 2, because I figure you can't go with DJ + 5 unproven kids.
DJ, FA, Scott are pretty given, I think. Then I draft 2. Then maybe Velus, a PR, or even just 5 to accommodate the likely 3 QBs.

But there's a lot of options. I could happily take 3-4 once I get to trading down.

[crueltyabc]

There are so many good ones I've been doing mocks where I draft 2 or 3.

Yeah, I usually stop myself at 2, because I figure you can't go with DJ + 5 unproven kids.
DJ, FA, Scott are pretty given, I think. Then I draft 2. Then maybe Velus, a PR, or even just 5 to accommodate the likely 3 QBs.

But there's a lot of options. I could happily take 3-4 once I get to trading down.

I think Scott flopped last season and Velus is... Velus so I wouldn't mind a rookie playing them off the team

[Rusty Trombagent]

Yeah, I usually stop myself at 2, because I figure you can't go with DJ + 5 unproven kids.
DJ, FA, Scott are pretty given, I think. Then I draft 2. Then maybe Velus, a PR, or even just 5 to accommodate the likely 3 QBs.

But there's a lot of options. I could happily take 3-4 once I get to trading down.

I think Scott flopped last season and Velus is... Velus so I wouldn't mind a rookie playing them off the team

wow, we're kicking our 4th rounder from last year off the team already!

[crueltyabc]

It depends on how many picks they end up with but there aren't many good safeties so when you get to the 4th round so either you select a developmental backup olinemen or you're selecting a guy who's coming to take a spot from a name we know.

[Grizzled]

Scott was an X in college but the Bears put him in the slot a lot so there was a growing curve. Moore is, obviously, the alpha X on the team. So, do the Bears keep on trying Scott in the slot, try him at Z, which is typically where a bigger guy is played, or as a backup to Moore? Nabers is an X. Odunze is a Z. I'd like to see the Bears try to draft that Z and a slot guy if they don't sign either in FA.