Chicago Bears: Potential replacements for Allen Robinson in the first round
By Joseph Herff
The Chicago Bears could replace Allen Robinson with Rashod Bateman
In my opinion, Rashod Bateman is the sleeper of this wide receiver class and could be the best rookie in 2021. Bateman gives me Keenan Allen or Allen Robinson vibes at wide receiver that is highly underappreciated. He isn’t flashy like Jaylen Waddle and doesn’t have the gaudy stats like Devonta Smith, but he still showcases incredible talent.
Bateman is a silky, smooth route runner that has solid size to be a great number one receiver at the next level. He has incredible hands as well as he constantly makes acrobatic catches. He constantly creates great separation running his routes. He projects to be an instant starting wide receiver.
In 2019, Bateman caught 60 passes for 1,219 yards and 11 even while playing alongside Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Tyler Johnson. He didn’t play much in 2020 though catching 36 passes for 472 yards and two touchdowns.
Bateman would be a great replacement for Allen Robinson because he is similar to Robinson as the possession wide receiver that essentially catches everything. As I said, he isn’t incredibly fast or a freak athlete, so he doesn’t get the hype of other top wide receivers, but he doesn’t need that to be successful.
Draft Day Projection: Chicago Bears select Rashod Bateman 20th overall