Chicago Bears: Post-first round mock draft builds around Justin Fields

Chicago Bears Round 3, Pick No. 83

Giving new quarterback Justin Fields some protection, let’s give him some more weapons, shall we? Along with offensive tackle, wide receiver is very deep in this NFL Draft class, so finding dominant college wide receivers can happen even in the third round and that’s exactly what D’Wayne Eskridge is.

Eskridge comes to the NFL after being a Swiss Army Knife for the Broncos. He has seen immediate playing time since coming onto Western Michigan’s campus back in 2017. Although Western Michigan struggled to throw him the ball, he made it count every time he had the ball in his hands as he averaged over 20 yards per reception every season since 2018. In 2020 in only six games, he racked up over 700 receiving yards and eight touchdowns while additionally returning kicks as well.

As previously stated, Eskridge is a true Swiss Army Knife. He runs the ball, catches the ball, and returns kicks. He is a home-run hitter, deep threat wide receiver that is excellent once you get the ball into his hands. Eskridge looks to shoot out of a cannon at the start of every play. He will make his living out of the slot as a down-the-field deep threat. He doesn’t have much of a route tree, but that can be developed at the NFL level.

With Anthony Miller potentially gone, the Bears may need a slot receiver replacement, and Eskridge would be that guy. Having both Eskridge and Darnell Mooney on the field would make the Bears’ offense not only dangerous but also explosive. Along with those two, the Bears have Mr. Reliable in Allen Robinson and they can contest for an elite wide receiver core. Eskridge can additionally immediately contribute at kickoff returner as Cordarrelle Patterson left via free agency.