Chicago Bears Draft Prospect Preview: Wide Receiver Kenny Stills
By Heather Pink
Jan 4, 2013; Arlington, TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Kenny Stills (4) during the Cotton Bowl.
Phil Emery is realizing that the key to winning in the NFL is now piecing together a compatible offense. In the 2012 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears picked up South Carolina wide receiver Alshon Jeffery in the second round at pick number 45. After acquiring Brandon Marshall and drafting Alshon Jeffery, you would think that the Bears would be done at the wideout position…but they shouldn’t. Devin Hester shouldn’t be put back as a wide receiver, and be strictly used on special teams. That and Earl Bennett has proved to be a decent wide receiver but with little production.
I believe that the Chicago Bears should be using one of their draft picks on a wide receiver later on in the draft. My projection: Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Kenny Stills. It’s a stretch seeing that Stills would be a perfect fit IF the Bears had a 3rd round draft pick…so I’m assuming that if the Bears pick a WR it would be with their 4th round draft selection. Take a look at some stats about Sooners wideout Kenny Stills from CBSSports.com:
Height: 6-1
Weight: 194 lbs.
Position Rank: 16
40 yard dash: 4.32
Bench Press: 16
Vertical Jump: 33.50
2012 Statistics
82 receptions 959 receiving yards 11.7 avg 11 touchdowns
The team of Marshall, Jeffery, and (Earl) Bennett wasn’t enough. Adding Martellus Bennett is going to help tremendously, but I think that the Bears still need one more wide receiver. With Alshon Jeffery getting injured last year, I question if he will end up being an injury-prone guy or if he will produce more than the 367 receiving yards with three touchdowns from last season. And can Earl Bennett be a wide receiver worthy of even 500 receiving yards a season? Personally, I don’t think so. The more offensive guns, the merrier.
Enough about the Bears wide receivers, let’s talk about Kenny Stills. He’s an incredible athlete with speed and good hands. Well, I’m sold. But really, Stills is great when it comes to beating out fast corners while tracking the ball. Meaning that Cutler would have another deep threat target. Stills has excellent footwork, and in combination with his knowledge of routes, he could make an impact from day one. My favorite parts about watching Stills plays is that he seems to enjoy blocking, which I think is a great quality to get in wide receivers. Not only that, but his ability to get physical after the catch is outstanding.
Some critics have said he needs to learn how to play all four quarters. If he plays for the Bears, Trestman won’t be playing him the entire game, and he will have to learn to make the most out of the time that he plays. Stills has had some run-ins with the law, but maybe having a “brotherhood” atmosphere with Brandon Marshall and Martellus Bennett around, he might get his act together.
Will Phil Emery choose to pick a wide receiver in the 2013 NFL Draft after picking one in the 2012 NFL Draft? Is Kenny Stills the guy the Bears need to help win more games? What do you guys think?