Chicago Bears: Day 2 Targets – Offensive Skill Positions

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Wide Receiver:

Nelson Agholor, USC (6’0 | 198 | 4.37)

Lately most mocks have Agholor going in the late first round, but this is a very deep draft at the receiver position and those late first round picks will come down to team preference. There are plenty of receivers with defined roles and a guy like Agholor who is more well rounded, without a clearly defined niche, could drop to early in the 2nd round (at the latest). He’s one of the top route runners in the draft, has reliable hands, good elusiveness after the catch, and can help out in the return game. There are few flaws in Agholor’s profile and he would be a steal early on day 2 for the Bears.

The Bears have an established deep threat in Alshon Jeffrey, but they need a WR who can get open consistently across from him. We saw last year the problem with having two big receivers who lack elite quickness and route-running ability. There were way too many plays that Cutler had time to throw but there was nobody open. A receiver with Agholor’s elusiveness would be a perfect fit across from Jeffrey and would diversify the receivers corps, giving Cutler a reliable short-to-mid range option. Agholor’s punt return skills would fill a need as well.

Rashad Greene, Florida St (5’11 |182 | 4.49)

One of the best route-runners in the draft with smooth footwork and explosiveness out of breaks. Greene sets up defenders well with double moves, subtle misdirection, quick hands, and a solid understanding of defensive schemes. He’s shown good concentration on catches over the middle and has enough speed to stretch the field if corners play him too tight. Greene has had consistent hands throughout his career and has a knack for making clutch catches.

Greene’s best position in the NFL is most likely in the slot, where the Bears just added Eddie Royal. That’s not to say that the Bears would pass on a 2nd slot receiver if Greene falls far enough. Teams are running 4 and even 5 WR sets more often lately and the Bears have little depth behind their top 2-3 receivers. If Greene is still available in round 3, he would be a great value pick for the Bears.

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Tyler Lockett, Kansas St (5’10 | 182 | 4.31)

If there is a common theme among these three receivers it’s that the Bears need to diversify their receiving corps. Having three guys that are tall but can’t get open consistently didn’t work out that well last season. The Bears have an established deep threat / red zone weapon in Alshon Jeffrey, but need to give Jay Cutler some QB-friendly type recievers who can get open over the middle and on short-to-intermediate routes. Lockett is in the mix with Agholor and Greene for best route-runner in the draft and proved his toughness plenty of times during his career at KSU where he was the only legitimate weapon on their offense but teams still couldn’t stop him.

Lockett’s best fit would be in the slot where the Bears just signed Eddie Royal, but he has shown he can be a dangerous deep threat and I think he could occasionally fill in at the #2 role and would be dangerous in 4 WR sets if matched up with a safety or LB. His kick and punt return skills would instantly improve the Bears special teams unit as well.