Chicago Bears: How Does WR Marquess Wilson Fit?
Taken in the seventh round (213th overall) of the 2013 NFL Draft, wide receiver Marquess Wilson was never really expected to make a huge impact for the Chicago Bears. Sure, there was a fair amount of buzz surrounding Wilson, as he showed nice measurables and athletic ability on the field, but coachability concerns caused him to slip far down the draft.
The Bears took a chance on his talent, but it is not like anything was really expected out of the seventh round pick. Selecting Wilson was pretty much a shot in the dark.
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While he has yet to reach his full potential, I think it is fair to say that the pick up until this point has been some-what successful. Wilson has stayed out of the headlines off-the-field, and after barely seeing the field as a rookie, he looked very good at times last season.
Wilson appeared primed to get a nice opportunity with the Bears last off season. Unfortunately, he missed the first nine games of the season with a clavicle injury.
However, he did look very good down the stretch filling in for the injured Brandon Marshall. Wilson only finished the season with 17 receptions for 140 yards and a touchdown, but he passed the eye-test. Physically and athletically, Wilson looked like he belonged last season.
Apr 30, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Kevin White (West Virginia) is selected as the number seven overall pick to the Chicago Bears in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
With the Bears moving on from Marshall this off season, it once appeared like Wilson would get a ton of opportunity in 2015. That was quickly shot down when the Bears drafted WR Kevin White with the seventh overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. White is a dynamic player at the wide receiver position who has absolutely massive upside. He will very likely start opposite of Alshon Jeffery in the Bears’ offense, leaving Wilson’s role unsettled.
On top of drafting White, the Bears also brought WR Eddie Royal in as a free agent. Royal has had a very nice career as a slot receiver, and his skills out of the slot will certainly help the Bears’ offense. As of right now, Wilson is probably sitting fourth on the WR depth chart for the Bears.
With the additions at the position, Wilson certainly has an uphill climb for playing time in the Bears’ offense. That being said, he has caught the eye of new head coach John Fox.
“It was probably a frustrating start to his career, but he caught our eye as a guy that we were impressed with on the tape, albeit limited tape and I’ve liked what I’ve seen during these first six practice opportunities,” Fox said, according to Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.
It is certainly nice for Wilson to have Fox by his size, but at 6-foot-4, 193 pounds with good speed and athletic ability, he has the chance to make an impact all by himself. Wilson is entering the third year of his NFL career, and that has historically been when wide receivers really seem to hit their stride in the NFL.
The Bears will probably not need a huge performance out of Wilson in 2015, but he certainly has the upside to give it to them. Wilson is a player who gives the Bears nice security on the outside in case it takes White a while to get acclimated to the NFL, and he can also battle Royal for snaps out of the slot. Regardless, if he continues to impress, the Bears are going to find a way to get him on the field, because Wilson’s massive upside is obvious.
Next: What to expect out of Bears' WR Kevin White