The Chicago Bears are set to have an all-out competition at wide receiver this summer. You can write in Allen Robinson then Darnell Mooney behind him, but the rest is up for grabs. The Bears have a group of WRs from Anthony Miller, Javon Wims, Riley Ridley to the additions of Marquise Goodwin, Damiere Byrd, and Dazz Newsome. Between the six, only three and perhaps four will make the roster.
At the end of the day, each player will have to prove their value in one way or the other for the team to feel like they need to keep them. Of this group, it is tough to say that Riley Ridley have enough traits that would have him standing out above the rest.
To start, he does not play the slot, which limits how he gets on the field. Anthony Miller and Dazz Newsome have a firm case at making the roster solely off of their slot experience, which puts Ridley behind both, considering Robinson and Mooney play on the outside for most snaps.
In the case of Newsome, you also get special teams value. He returned punts and has the potential to be a gunner on multiple units. Marquise Goodwin adds potential on teams returning kicks as well.
Goodwin does not have much experience in the slot, but could be looked at as depth behind Darnell Mooney. The team does not have speed like that beyond Mooney, and Goodwin is much faster than Ridley.
Javon Wims is not the most looked up to WR on the roster right now, but he has a role. Wims has consitently gotten playing time over Riley Ridley due to his special teams ability, but even was seeing the field over Anthony Miller because he was such a strong run blocker.
So, Robinson and Mooney are locked in on the outside, with Miller and Newsome fighting it out in the slot. Wims brings depth as a blocker, Goodwin brings depth with speed, even Damiere Byrd has more experience, special teams ability, and attitude as a run blocker than Ridley.
He is older than Wims, and Newsome too, so it is hard to say he will eventually catch them. This is starting to become like the scene in Office Space when the Bobs ask what it is that you actually do here.
Ridley does not play special teams, does not have a reputation as a blocker, and does not have experience in the slot. He is not bringing enough to the roster and will likely be pushed out soon.