What does the Chicago Bears depth chart look like at wide receiver before the 2020 NFL draft?
1. Allen Robinson
Allen Robinson is a clear-cut number one wide receiver. He did have issues last season, as did everyone. However, he was by far the best offensive player that the Chicago Bears had, and was still extremely consistent as he looked much better in his second season removed from ACL surgery.
Robinson is still 26 years and will get extended any day now.
2. Anthony Miller
Miller is the number two wide receiver and finished second in receiving last season. However, he spent 60% of his snaps running routes from the slot. He is also going to be 26 by the end of this season, so he is right in the prime of his career. This should be a breakout season by all accounts. After a rocky start to 2019, he bounced back and should be even better in 2020.
3. Cordarelle Patterson
Patterson is the second-highest-paid receiver on the team. His return game impact makes his value worth it on his own. However, he is not really a number three receiver. It can be argued that Matt Nagy did not use Patterson in the right ways, but Patterson also is a gadget player, more than a receiver. Him being here shows that the position may be a need.
4. Javon Wims
Javon Wims outproduced Riley Ridley at Georgia. Wims started above him when Ridley was a rookie. Ridley has higher draft capital and Wims is two years older, but as of right now, everything says that Wims should be ahead of Ridley on the depth chart until we see more. Can he take over that outside, number three role?
5. Riley Ridley
The Bears draft plans will tell us a lot about the Ridley pick. Ridley did not get on the field over Wims and did not provide on special teams as a rookie. Both of those things need to change in year two if Ridley wants to have an NFL impact.
If the Bears draft a receiver early, they likely are already calling it on Ridley and would take anything he could give. If they go the whole draft without taking a receiver, they clearly think one of Ridley or Wims will step up. Which one will?
6. Thomas Ives
Ives is a 6’4″ UDFA from Colgate. The Chicago Bears signed him last season and he spent the year with the team, taking the role of the new Tanner Gentry. He would have to take over for Riley Ridley or Javon Wims if he wanted a job on the roster.
7. Alex Wesley
Wesley was a UDFA from Northern Colorado. He signed with the Giants but found his way to the Bears by the end of the 2019 season. Now, he is looking to earn a job in 2020. Special teams would likely be the path for Wesley, but he does have speed, and profiles similar to a player in the running to replace Taylor Gabriel.
8. Reggie Davis
Davis was a UDFA from 2017. He bounced around from the Browns to Falcons, Eagles, and Cowboys before winding up in Chicago. Davis is an undersized speedster and portrays as a poor mans Taylor Gabriel or even Marvin Hall. The Bears draft plans would also say a lot about what they think of Davis.