If the Chicago Bears are looking for a wide receiver, there are plenty of options that could fall.
After the first round of the 2020 NFL draft, the Chicago Bears are now just 11 picks away from making their first pick of the offseason. Knowing who the first 32 players are for them has opened up the options as to who will fall to them.
Henry Ruggs, Jerry Jeudy, CeeDee Lamb, Jalen Reagor, Justin Jefferson, and Brandon Aiyuk were the wide receivers drafted last night.
Knowing these players are off of the board, who are five wide receivers that could still fall to the Chicago Bears?
5. K.J. Hamler, Penn State
The ultimate gadget player is K.J. Hamler. Hamler is pure speed and can take any play to the house. The reason he fell out of round one comes down to his size. He is undersized at 5’9″ and 178 pounds. His physical presence may not be known, but for a team that drafted Tarik Cohen, they may want another speed option.
If the Bears are looking for a direct replacement for Taylor Gabriel, an undersized speed threat who can stretch the field in Hamler makes plenty of sense.
4. Laviska Shenault, Colorado
Shennault plays a similar role to Hamler but has an entirely different size. Shenault comes in over 220 pounds. However, similar to Hamler, he is used in a variety of manners and can be a gadget player. Similar to Cordarelle Patterson, Colorado lined him up in the backfield as well.
Shenault is falling due to questionable medicals. He took a step back statistically last year and left the combine early with an injury. Will that bug the Bears, or slide a premium receiver to them?
3. Tee Higgins, Clemson
If the Bears are going to add a receiver, Higgins may be the hardest sell for the Chicago Bears. Higgins comes in at 6’4, 216 pounds. In terms of style, size, and athleticism, he is a player that you could compare to Allen Robinson.
Similar to Robinson, Higgins is falling into the middle of the second round. Still, where Shennault and Hamler compliment Robinson, and the two could replace Gabriel, Higgins feels a bit redundant.
2. Denzel Mims, Baylor
Mims is a fascinating prospect. He has the size of a receiver like Allen Robinson but has the speed of Taylor Gabriel. Mims did not run deep often in college, but when he did, he made big-time plays down the field.
Mims was a late draft riser after his combine performance, but it was not enough to rise him into round 1. Mims has the most upside of any receiver in this group and would be a fascinating fit.
1. Michael Pittman Jr., USC
Pittman is a player that we mocked to the Chicago Bears before the draft. Now, with 11 picks to go, he remains on the board. Pittman did not explode onto the scene until his senior year, which is why some may question his upside. Still, Pittman has excellent size and is an exceptional route runner. He made explosive plays down the field last season and showed his overall versatility as a receiver.