Top 10 Sleeper Wide Receivers For The Bears In The 2016 NFL Draft

Sep 6, 2014; Lawrence, KS, USA; Southeast Missouri State Redhawks wide receiver Paul McRoberts (1) catches a pass for a touchdown against Kansas Jayhawks cornerback JaCorey Shepherd (24) and safety Isaiah Johnson (5) in the second half at Memorial Stadium. Kansas won the game 34-28. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 6, 2014; Lawrence, KS, USA; Southeast Missouri State Redhawks wide receiver Paul McRoberts (1) catches a pass for a touchdown against Kansas Jayhawks cornerback JaCorey Shepherd (24) and safety Isaiah Johnson (5) in the second half at Memorial Stadium. Kansas won the game 34-28. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 11
Next
Southeast Missouri State Redhawks wide receiver Paul McRoberts (1) Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports
Southeast Missouri State Redhawks wide receiver Paul McRoberts (1) Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports /

Not every pick you hear Rodger Goodell introduce as one of the newest drafted Bears will have a familiar name. For the most part, the bulk of the draft coverage is understandably devoted to the players who stared at division I schools in the country’s top conferences. It will be my intent to introduce to you (in these last few days before the draft) to some of the more obscure players that aren’t heavily covered. For those who are draft junkies like myself, and already know some or most of these guys maybe I can bring some new information, or even give a different take than the one you might have yourself, or might have read or heard about from media draft experts.

Either way, I’m not just looking to compile a list of obscure players from unknown schools to throw out there for public consumption. I am giving you information on players I think can make the Chicago Bears roster, and maybe perhaps one day start, or even dare I say star for the Chicago Bears, and be a part of the team’s future core. This list isn’t necessarily in order of worth. Just ten guys that can be excellent value picks most people aren’t familiar with.

As always when you’re looking at guys like these you’re looking for players who can win roster spots based on how they ball out on special teams, and maybe some upside that can be developed because they were underutilized, under developed, and did not have the best coaching playing in small schools around the country.

Wide receivers are typically thought of as contributors in the return game, but most are big as gunners. So these guys have to have toughness along with speed, athleticism and traits that make them just as good blocking and tackling as catching kicks and punts and running for the goal line with the ball. So I factored this in heavily when compiling this list.

These traits also can translate on the offense side. Especially catching tough 3rd down passes, and blocking downfield to free running backs and fellow receivers to get long gains at the second level. Without further adieu here are the top 10 sleepers as I see them. Remember they’re not in order of value. Just ten guys to get to know when day 3 is here and the Bears are on the clock.

Next: Wide receiver Sleeper # 10