Post-Draft: Bears wide receiver depth chart

How will the Chicago Bears wide receiver depth chart play out?

Now that the NFL draft is over it is time to start looking to rookie camps, OTAs and training camp. The 90-man roster is now set so the time to speculate about who will be in what spot, and who may make the 53-man roster is here. In this series, we will go position by position to project the potential depth chart of the Bears come August. This edition will focus on wide receivers.

1. Kevin White

The hope is that a healthy White can come in, stay healthy and be the wide receiver everyone wants him to be. However, it is so hard to project his future given such a rocky start. Still, this is where he should be in a perfect world.

2. Cameron Meredith

Meredith has some things to work on in terms of drops and fumbles, but he is a very solid receiver. He can play inside and outside and uses his size to win in the possession game and move chains with the ball in his hands.

3. Markus Wheaton

Wheaton was signed this offseason and was given a contract this offseason and is now the only receiver aside from White who is signed on beyond this season. Needless to say, the Bears will give him a chance and hope that he is a weapon who can stretch the field from the slot and on the outside.

4. Eddie Royal

Royal is 30 now and his stint in Chicago has been one of the least consistent of his career. Royal is a free agent next season and with the Bears adding Wheaton and Kendall Wright as potential replacements, the Bears are clearly thinking about life without Royal.

5. Kendall Wright

An argument can be made the coaching and quarterback changes, along with injury ruined Wright’s career in Tennessee. That does mean that he comes in with the idea of some upside. If he can stay healthy, the scheme is already better for him and he can easily beat out Royal by August.

6. Rueben Randle

Randle is an uninspiring receiver who gives you just enough to want to buy into. However, he can provide on special teams and has a decent chance of making the roster as a bottom of the depth chart player.

7. Josh Bellamy

The Bears brought back Bellamy on a low-end one year deal and then added three wide receivers in free agency. They do not see much in him and he will have to win a job by playing special teams better than Randle.

8. Daniel Braverman

Braverman is a slot option at best in the NFL. Given that the team invested in Wright and Wheaton, they do not intend on giving Braverman his chance this season. Of course, he could force his way up the depth chart.

9. Tanner Gentry

Gentry is the most intriguing option the Bears brought in as an undrafted free agent. He will have to fight for a roster spot, and will likely find his way onto the practice squad. However, Gentry is a name to keep an eye on, especially in 2018.

10. Deonte Thompson

Thompson has been a bit of a disappointment. He is the starting kick returner, but Kendall Wright, Markus Wheaton, Benny Cunningham and Tarik Cohen are all returner options next year that were brought in. That should not bode well for Thompson.

11. JaJhuan Seales

Seales is a big play receiver who wins when the ball is in the air. He is a high effort player and could carve out a role on special teams but has a lot of names ahead of him as of now.

12. Kermit Whitfield

Whitfield will have to win a kick returner job to make the team. As mentioned with Thompson, it will be a tough spot to win, but Whitfield certainly has a chance with 4.4 speed and big play ability.

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