What would reasonable expectations be for Riley Ridley?
Many fans thought that they had the wide receiver room figured out. Then the Chicago Bears drafted Riley Ridley. Then they added Emanuel Hall as the best UDFA of the entire group. All of the sudden this group went from filled to loaded, stacked to the brim.
Can the Chicago Bears keep six receivers? Seven? How many will actually play? Is there a fantasy sleeper here? The questions loaded with the selection of Riley Ridley.
What makes the Ridley pick even tougher to decipher for Chicago is his profile. Ridley is not a high end athlete. He was drafted off of his nuance and route running. His ceiling is not going to be much higher.
The Bears drafted Anthony Miller because they wanted to get him on the field early into his career. They did not care that he was an older prospect, they knew that meant he was a refined prospect. They are getting Ridley at a discount because of his athleticism, and are getting a player ready to start next season because of his nuance.
Still, Ridley is not going to start next season. On the surface, Allen Robinson, Taylor Gabriel and Anthony Miller are locks to start over him. Yes, all three have had injury questions, still, this is where it becomes tough to project Ridley.
Could Riley Ridley get cut?
Being a fourth-round pick increases the odds of him making the team, but it certainly does not make him a lock. With three names ahead of him, Cordarelle Patterson in the mix, Hall having more upside, and Javon Wims outproducing him in college, Ridley is going to have to fight for his roster spot.
Still, the fourth round investment does mean that they have a plan for Ridley. A worst-case scenario for Ridley feels like being a special teamer if someone like Hall or Wims did step into that fourth or fifth role.
What is the best case?
Without projecting injury, Ridley can still get on the field for 10-15 snaps per game. Taylor Gabriel is a speedster, but Allen Robinson and Riley Ridley could move the chains on third down on the outside with Anthony Miller in the slot. Money third downs, and goal-line situations could be the draw for Ridley, who could quickly become a fan favorite and despite pedestrian counting numbers, he could have strong touchdown numbers.
Setting expectations
If Ridley Ridley does not make the team it is a major disappointment. If he cannot beat out Wims it would be disappointing as well. They drafted him higher knowing what they had in Wims. They also drafted him over Hall. These players present hurdles, but Ridley was drafted because he was safer and more refined. They want to go to him on the money downs when they are unsure of these other options.
With that in mind, expectations still have to be reasonable. He should make the team. He should get on the field for around 10 snaps per game. Still, would three catches for 26 yards, maybe a touchdown here and there sound like a normal stat line for the rookie Ridley? That is a fair expectation, as competition should bring out the best in the ready-made Georgia receiver.