Chicago Bears 2020 NFL Draft Profile: Brycen Hopkins

Could Brycen Hopkins be the tight end of the future for the Chicago Bears?

The Chicago Bears head into the offseason with a lot of work to do if they plan on getting back to the playoffs in 2020.

It’s no surprise that the tight end position has been a complete disaster for the Bears ever since Martellus Bennett left in 2015 it seems. They thought they had something in Zach Miller but he ended up suffering a major leg injury back in 2017 and hasn’t played since.

Ryan Pace went out and drafted Adam Shaheen instead of George Kittle in the 2017 NFL draft and then signed Trey Burton in 2018 to a 4-year $32 million dollar contract after he won the Superbowl with the Philadelphia Eagles. Both Shaheen and Burton have been dealing with injuries over the course of the last two seasons.

Heading into the offseason, the tight end position is one of the team’s biggest needs. You just can’t head into the 2020 season feeling confident with Ben Braunecker and J.P. Holtz as your main tight ends, and you can’t rely on Burton and Shaheen to stay healthy all season.

This is where tight end Brycen Hopkins comes into play for the Bears. One of the best things about Hopkins is his ability to run a full route tree which is an important part of the Bears offense because tight ends are the focal point of everything. One thing I love about Hopkins is the level of versatility he brings to the table.

In 2019, Hopkins had 61 catches, 830 receiving yards, and 7 touchdowns.

Hopkins could be considered the top tight end in the class of 2020 and could potentially fly up the draft boards. He fits well with what the Bears want to do on offense so if he’s sitting there when they are on the board at pick #43, they should take him.

Strengths

• Route Running is one of his strengths. He has the full route tree at his disposal. He reads leverage and understands cover shells very nicely. He can quickly uncover against man coverage from both defensive backs and linebackers.

Weakness

• His hands are what worry me. He has to frequently double catch the ball and regrips it to secure the ball. He also plays with quite a disappointing catch technique, which he’ll need to work on if he plans on being successful in the NFL.

Fit with Bears

The Bears desperately need a tight end and Hopkins fits what they want to do on the offensive side of the ball.

How would you feel if the Bears selected Hopkins with the 43rd overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft?