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Wide Receiver
After the release of Earl Bennett, untested 7th rounder Marquess Wilson is moving into the #3 receiver role. He only played 76 snaps last year (roughly 1 game) and had just two catches. The coaching staff raved about his work in practice, but Sundays are a different animal and he’s not a proven commodity yet. All he has behind him on the depth chart is career back-up Domenik Hixon. The Bears need a little more depth at wide receiver. Luckily this year’s WR class is the deepest I’ve ever seen so there should be some quality NFL talent available after the draft. I think the Bears could be looking to add a quick receiver to run underneath routes and complement the Bears current outside receivers.
Jeremy Gallon, Michigan (5’7, 185) – Short, quick, and elusive like the rest of the late round slot receivers (Saunders, Copeland, Brown) but what separates Gallon is that he has about 15 extra pounds of pure muscle on his frame. The extra muscle gives Gallon an edge in durability and strength to beat press coverage at the line of scrimmage. He was very productive as a senior (89, 1373, 9) at Michigan despite inconsistent quarterback play. Gallon has the toughness to make catches over the middle, break a tackle or two, and also return punts. Most years he’d have a chance to go as high as the 5th round, but crazy receiver depth could give the Bears a steal in the UFA signing period.
Austin Franklin, New Mexico St (5’11, 189) – Most years a player with Franklin’s talent would be a 4th-5th round pick, but with so much talent at receiver in this year’s draft, some players with NFL talent are bound to slip out of the draft all together. Franklin is very quick with good acceleration and elite elusiveness after the catch. He would be a good fit for the Bears and give them a weapon over the middle and on short routes that he can turn into long gains.
Kain Colter, Northwestern (5’11, 200) – Probably would have been drafted if not for a late season ankle injury that has kept him from working out for teams. Colter was a quarterback at Northwestern, so he’s a bit of an unknown as a receiver. He’s an excellent athlete with abnormally large hands for his size (10″). Colter could give the Bears a multi-dimensional threat as a slot receiver, punt returner, and wildcat QB.
Quincy Enunwa, Nebraska (6’2, 225) – A big receiver with great size & strength who surprised at the combine with a 4.46 40-time. Enunwa was a team captain as a 21-year old senior which shows a knack for leadership and football smarts. His hands aren’t great and his route running needs some work, but he has the physical attributes and intelligence to be a productive outside receiver in the NFL. With Marshall and Jeffery already in place, the Bears could take their time with Enunwa and develop his skills for a year or two before he sees the field. More upside then most UFAs.
Tight End
Head coach Marc Trestman has mentioned multiple times this off-season that he would like to add a H-back / Move TE to the offense. They have Fendi Onobun on the roster but as we saw last preseason, he has some issues catching the ball (stone hands!). There are a couple of interesting prospects that didn’t make the first 7 rounds of my mock, but could probably beat out Onobun for the job:
A.C. Leonard, Tennessee St (6’2, 252) – An off-field red-flag guy (battery), Leonard was a blue-chip recruit who started his career at Florida. He looks like it in shorts with a chiseled physique and obvious athleticism. His combine workouts backed it up; His 4.50 40-time led all tight ends, he tied Lyerla for the longest broad jump (128″), and had the 3rd highest vertical leap (34″). Leonard is an elite athlete, but also looked good in the positional drills showing fluid change of direction skills and soft hands. His production in college (34, 454, 5) didn’t match up with his physical skills, but I know nothing about the Tennessee St offense and whether the tight end was used at all. What I do know is that Leonard looked like an explosive “move” tight end prospect, which just so happens is exactly what the Bears are looking for in the late rounds.
Jacob Pederson, Wisconsin (6’3, 238) – The opposite of Leonard in that he has below average athleticism, but a track record of good production in college. Wisconsin has turned into tight end U over the last few years (5 Badger TEs in the league) and Pederson has a shot to be the 6th. Pederson was a move-TE at Wisconsin so he is familiar with the responsibilities of the position and despite limited athleticism, small hands, and a thin build, Pederson was very effective in the Big Ten. He’s a long shot, but a hard worker with plenty of football smarts so he has a chance.
Joe Don Duncan, Dixie St (6’3, 268) – Very strong (35 reps) H-back prospect with excellent hands but limited athleticism. Duncan dominated against inferior competition at Dixie St, but wasn’t able to prove himself at the Senior Bowl due to a foot injury. Duncan has had plenty of injury issues in his college career so that is something the Bears medical staff would have to vet. He’s a bit of a question mark, but looks good on tape and is worth the limited risk of a spot on the practice squad. Duncan also has long-snapper skills if Patrick Mannelly ever retires.
Offensive Line
The Bears offensive line was the best it’s been in at least ten years and everyone is coming back, but you never know when injuries are going to strike (knock on wood), so having some depth on the roster preemptively would avoid a disaster like we saw on the defensive line last year.
T – Donald Hawkins, Texas (6’5, 301) – Quick feet and good technique have helped Hawkins have a successful career as a left tackle at Texas, but he is a bit undersized for the position at the NFL level. Hawkins is more of a finesse blocker then most teams like, but could eventually become a solid swing tackle.
G – Zach Fulton, Tennessee (6’5, 316) – Good size and strength, but raw technique. Fulton shows flashes of being a dominant run blocker and with a little coaching could become a starting caliber guard.
C – Jonotthan Harrison, Florida (6’4, 304) – Phone booth blocker who could be a solid run blocker at either center or guard, but needs a lot of work on his pass blocking technique. Harrison has good size and is quick off the ball, but doesn’t move well laterally. He has above average athleticism and with some technique adjustments could be an adequate enough pass blocker to contribute eventually. Harrison is a consistent shotgun snapper and has the size and athleticism to be an NFL center, he just needs some technique refinement.
Twitter: @MikeFlannery_