5 underrated Chicago Bears who could make a difference in 2022
By Evan Bruner
Chicago Bears Player No. 2: Dazz Newsome, WR
Similar to Thomas Graham, wide receiver Dazz Newsome spent much of 2021 on the practice squad and didn’t get enough meaningful playing time to show what we can do. Newsome finished his uneventful rookie season with two catches for 23 yards and six punt returns for 75 yards while appearing in only three games. The fact the Bears only drafted one wide receiver with their multitude of picks in last month’s draft shows that the front office is confident enough in their current group of receivers.
Assuming the Bears don’t pursue Will Fuller, they’ll be left with what is an extremely shallow wide receiver room. Even if Newsome isn’t in the regular rotation to start the season, he’ll only be an injury or two away from getting in. Newsome’s solid athleticism to go with his soft hands make him, at the very least, a formidable target.
The biggest question for Newsome will be if he can be anything more than a pure slot receiver. At 5’10″ 190, Newsome doesn’t have outside receiver measurables, but neither do Velus Jones Jr. and Darnell Mooney. He showed above-average physicality as a blocker in college, and if that style of play can translate as a pass-catcher, Newsome has a real chance of making a difference in 2022.