Chicago Bears Draft Scout: Cedrick Wilson

Parker Hurley

LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 16: Wide receiver Sean Modster

In two seasons at Boise State, Cedrick Wilson put up over 1,000 yards receiving. Do his skills fit a need for the Chicago Bears?

The son of former NFL player Cedrick Wilson took a different path than his father to this point. The younger Wilson stated his college career in Junior College for two seasons before transferring to Boise. Since joining the Broncos, his draft stock has shot up to the point where his career may wind up better than his fathers.

In his first season he put up 1,129 yards and 11 touchdowns. Last year, he put up 1,290 and six touchdowns on 73 receptions. It had him in the running for wide receiver of the year. How do his skills translate and is he an NFL bet?

Measurables

Age: 22

School: Boise State Broncos

Strengths

Wilson is a splash player who can instantly change the game with a big play. This starts with his speed. Deep balls, end arounds, sweeps and reverses is where he excels, and where he is able to make his splash.

However, his contested catch ability is what ramps up the NFL talk. Take the play below for example. He uses his speed to quickly get even and get behind his defender. Now, he is ready to track down the ball in the air. He recognizes it, and realizes it is a bit short. He hitches his stride length a bit to get under it. As he slows down, the defender gets in reach and tugs on his arm. Wilson is able to rip his arm free, and come down with the reception while maintaining stride length to burn by the cornerback after the catch.

Below, Wilson sells a hitch and go well. However, due to how much space the corner is giving Wilson, the fake does not allow Wilson to blow by him. What it does do, though, is give Wilson the chance to track the ball while the cornerback is recovering to a spot. Watch Wilson make the play on the under thrown pass, in traffic.

The touchdown reception below is an excellent attempt at catching in traffic. Two defenders are coming in on him with a slightly under thrown pass. However, again, Wilson is in position where he is playing the ball and those two are recovering. Wilson is able to track it, and get his arms up to steal the ball that would have landed on the safeties head otherwise.

These catches show great ball tracking, but also excellent body control. Wilson has a great ability to contort his body to adjust to passes in the air. It also helps him create space on slant routes and after the catch.

More from Bear Goggles On

Take the play below for example. The pass is thrown high and well behind him. However, he uses the adjustment his body has to make to set himself up for yards after the catch. When he lands from bringing down the poor pass he is in perfect position to immediately run to open space. His awareness of where he is along with his body control to catch, land and run seamlessly show here.

Weaknesses

Wilson does well on slants, and can find space on curls. However, going over the middle is not going to be his best bet in the NFL. He is not quite physical enough in that regard. Most of his drops come from the big hits of going over the middle. Wilson does not necessarily have an extended route tree either. Press is also an issue for him. He does a good job of creating separation down the field, and he gets space a lot due to the respect he demands. However, his strength and quick feet may come into question when it comes to getting off of the line of scrimmage. Some of the more physical cornerbacks may be able to get in his face and jam him in the NFL

Pro Comparison- Marvin Jones, Detroit Lions

Wilson is very similar to Jones. Physically, the two are both a bit taller than your typical burner, but both are still on the thinner side. This affects them against press coverage and going over the middle. Jones does not have a strong, ironed out route tree to get separation in the quick passing game, and neither does Wilson. Jones turns to the curl route after selling deep to get open in short spaces, Wilson has a more refined slant route.

However, it is what the two do in the air that makes the comparison right on the money. Wilson finished with the top completion percentage when it comes to contested catches. It is tough to find a better contested catch artist than Marvin Jones. If a career like Jones were to be what Wilson is in for, he would likely take it. Jones is an underrated deep threat, and one of the best at his specific skill set.

LAS VEGAS, NV – DECEMBER 16: Wide receiver Sean Modster

A fit for Chicago Bears

The question now becomes, how does Wilson fit, and when does Wilson fit into the Bears draft plans. In terms of how, Wilson is an

More from Bear Goggles On

excellent fit for the Chicago Bears. The thing about Cameron Meredith and Kendall Wright, the top two Bears wide receivers on paper at this moment, is that both excel in the short passing game. Meredith has size, but is strong in the possession game and getting open near the ball. Wilson has a similar size to Meredith, but a completely different skill set. Wilson will be the one on the other side of the field demanding safety respect and freeing up the underneath for the other receivers. Think of Golden Tate and T.J. Jones always having space in their short passes because of the threat of Marvin Jones. This is what Cedrick Wilson brings.

He would be an excellent fit with the Chicago Bears. The question is at what round? His lack of overall ability and his ability to fit into the NFL as a role player may get him to drop into the middle rounds. There, he would be a great pick for the Bears.

Parker Hurley

IUP Alum. Pittsburgh native. Follows NFL, NCAAB, NBA, MLB, and NHL. Steelers and Pirates critic, Penguins homer. Write about the Chicago Bears and other relevant NFL news