The Chicago Bears added some speed to the team when they added Tyler Scott in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL draft. Bears fans have been hoping for more wide receiver help and they got it. So, what does Tyler Scott bring and what should fans know about this player?
4. Tyler Scott is a two-year starter who declared early for the NFL Draft
While the Chicago Bears got panned last year for taking Velus Jones, a player who was much older coming out, the Bears went the opposite this year with Tyler Scott. Scott is three years removed from high school and will be 21 when the season starts. To put that into perspective Velus Jones is almost four and a half years older than Tyler Scott despite being drafted just a year prior.
Scott did not play much as a true freshman but became a complimentary wideout for the Bearcats during their run to the College Football Playoffs in 2021.
In 2022, Scott stepped up and jumped onto the NFL radar. He finished with 1,149 snaps played, and 704 routes run. He lined up on both sides of the field but was mainly the "X" wide receiver. He only played 26 snaps in the slot throughout his career.
3. Tyler Scott took over last year for Cincinnati
Alec Pierce was a second-round pick last season and was the leading wideout when Cincinnati made their run. However, once he left it was apparent that Tyler Scott was the man to take over. He went from 520 yards to 904 yards and went from 1.95 yards per route run to 2.49 yards per route run. Scott embraced the challenge.
Last season, his target share was 24.8%, and his dominator rating was 41%. Those are in the 73rd and 85th percentiles against all players since 2000. Dominator rating factors in what percent of his production was the entire offense, so he was almost half of the Bearcats' offense last season.
For comparison, last season he was at 12% in target rate, and 16% in dominator rating. Pierce was a senior, so he was two years older than Scott. It makes sense that Scott was behind him. Still, Pierce had a 25.5% dominator rating, so Scott ate into the production of Pierce more than anyone else ate into the production of Scott.
It is impressive that Scott took over once he had the chance to be number one, and his efficiency improved across the board. Teams keyed in on him and it did not matter, which shows that he may be ready to make that jump to the NFL.
2. Tyler Scott is better against zone coverage than man coverage
While Tyler Scott was much better as the top target earner last year, he did have notable splits against man coverage compared to zone coverage. Last season Scott averaged 1.18 yards per route run in man coverage, and 3.47 yards per route run against zone coverage, per PFF.
That is pretty notable, and you have to wonder if Scott will struggle against man coverage in the NFL. Some of this has to do with his size, and he is not the best in contested catch situations. Some of it does have to do with how Cincinnati wanted to use him. Scott was a strong deep threat but without a good enough quarterback. the Bearscats mainly targeted him underneath.
He had over 36% of his targets come in the middle of the field within ten yards of the line of scrimmage. The Bearcats used Scott a ton on crossing routes, and in zone coverage, he could get a free release over the middle. Once he could turn on his jets with the ball in his hands, he could pick up yards.
Of draft-eligible wideouts, Scott was behind just Quentin Johnston, Marvin Mims, Jon Mingo, and Jalin Hyatt in yards after the catch per catch. He can do damage down the field, but can also excel with the ball in his hands.
1. Tyler Scott can give the Chicago Bears special teams value
We noted that if the Chicago Bears add a wide receiver, it would be wise for him to have punt return abilities. While that did not happen, Scott did end up being a valued special teams option at Cincinnati. He played 143 snaps and was a three-phase plater in 2021, and while his ascension on offense reduced that role, he still had 56 snaps on teams in 2022.
The reality is that as a fourth-round pick, he needs to show that he can find value in different ways. Being able to chase down punts, or even being a potential punt return option would help immensely.