Is UCLA wide receiver Jordan Lasley a potential late round pick for the Chicago Bears?
Jordan Lasley burst onto the scene as a junior with 1,264 yards and nine touchdowns. Was he a one hit wonder, or a deep threat that the Chicago Bears could use?
Measurables:
Age: 21
School: UCLA
Strengths
Jordan Lasley has a good combination of size and speed. He is able to take the top off of a defense and averaged over 18.3 yards per reception. Lasley does a great job of creating separation at the top of his routes and tracking down the ball.
His ability change speeds and create separation with bursts at the top of his route. He is definitely a player who will run faster in pads than on the track.
He is also a savvy route runner. He does not have the most disciplined feet, but he is able to find space and understands defensive coverages.
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He is also able to use his change of speeds to throw defenders off and create separation over the middle of the field.
This also leads to yards after the catch. Watch the play below as he runs all the way through the route, and already has a plan as to where he is going after the catch. This understanding and speed combine for big yards after the catch.
Weaknesses
Jordan Lasley has a skinny frame for his height and it shows up in terms of contested catches. He is not physical off of the line of scrummage and he can be thrown off of track off of the ball and down the field.
On top of that, drops in general are a huge issue. Over the last two seasons, he dropped 21 passes. He can get open all that he wants, but if quarterbacks cannot trust him, he will not be on the field.
Lastly are some off of the field questions that included a suspension due to possession of alcohol and a fake ID in 2016 as well as a suspension in 2017 for a violation of team rules.
Fit for Chicago Bears
After the failed signing of Markus Wheaton, the team is going to be looking for help in the deep passing game once again. Lasley has questions, but these questions will slide him to the point of being a potential value pick worth betting on.
The suspension for underage drinking is easy to pass off, but digging into his issues in 2017 will be worth investing. Ryan Pace has typically steered clear of personality red flags, but they seem minor in the case of Lasley.
In the later rounds, if the team did not get to address the receiver position due to the way the board breaks, Lasley would be a nice addition. However, if another team were willing to bet on his upside in the middle round he will be out of the Bears price range. Either way, whether or not the Bears make contact over the coming weeks in an attempt to see what his off of the field issues are could be worth monitoring due to his scheme fit and field-stretching abilities.