Rookie Expectations: Anthony Miller

Here’s what Chicago Bears’ fans should expect from Anthony Miller in his first year in Chicago.

When it looked like the Chicago Bears had an opening to select Anthony Miller, Ryan Pace didn’t hesitate. He made a very nice deal with Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots and was able to land himself one of the young wide receivers he coveted and the type of player that could fit like a glove in Matt Nagy’s offense.

Miller is a confident rookie and expects himself to be a big time contributor for this offense. The Bears are also expecting big things from him. Here’s what his rookie year could look like.

Best-Case Scenario

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If things go as Miller plans, he’ll instantly become a major impact player. The Bears use him mostly in the slot where he excels, but he even shows that he can dominate on the outside as well. He rapidly becomes a key contributor on the Bears’ offense and becomes one of Mitch Trubisky’s favorite targets. Miller makes plays with his athleticism and cracks 1000 yards receiving in his first season with somewhere in the neighborhood of 8 to 10 touchdowns. He earns all-rookie honors and with his attitude and charisma, becomes one of the league’s up and coming stars.

Worse-Case Scenario

Miller is a little slow to grasp the offense and isn’t on the field as often as he would like. He shows that the case of the drops that he had at times in college hasn’t gone away and he doesn’t become a reliable third down option because of it. Miller still sees the field plenty, but finishes closer to 400 yards receiving and only a couple of touchdowns. The Bears see enough promise to have hope for a big step forward in year two, but year one doesn’t live up to the team’s expectations.

Odds Are

Miller becomes a solid contributor for the Bears out of the gate. He excels in the slot and Trubisky looks his direction frequently. He doesn’t become a dominant force, but he establishes himself as a key part of this offense moving forward and the Bears and Bears’ fans see enough flashes that he could truly become an elite wide receiver. Miller finishes with about 700 yards receiving and finds the end zone about 5 times. He doesn’t earn all-rookie honors, but he’s in the conversation. The Bears think Miller is primed for a breakout season in 2019.