NEWSLETTER
The Chicago Bears addressed the team’s immediate concerns at wide receiver in free agency by signing Allen Robinson and Taylor Gabriel, but the team probably isn’t done scouting for talent at the position.
Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times reports that the Bears will host Notre Dame wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown on a Halas Hall visit. Beyond having an awesome name, St. Brown is an intriguing draft prospect who could be available later in the draft. And because the Bears don’t have a desperate need at receiver at this time, they figure more likely to draft one on Day 2 or Day 3, for some added depth and upside.
With that in mind, St. Brown could be an ideal addition to a group that is currently being reconstructed.
St. Brown checks in at 6’5″, 214 pounds with has plus athleticism. He ran a 4.48-second 40-yard dash and bench-pressed 225 pounds 20 times. Blessed with NFL-caliber size, speed, and strength, St. Brown is the type of receiver whose raw athleticism could be molded into something better in the pros than he was while on campus. St. Brown caught 58 passes for 961 yards and nine touchdowns as a sophomore, but his numbers dipped as a junior when he caught just 33 passes for 515 yards and four touchdowns for the Fighting Irish.
WalterFootball.com has St. Brown as the draft’s third-highest-ranked receiver prospect and projected to go anywhere between the first and third rounds. Meanwhile, NFL.com’s draft profile pegs St. Brown more as a Round 3-4 candidate while drawing a pro comparison to Andre Holmes.
If you recall, the Bears have two fourth-round picks in the upcoming NFL Draft. So it’s possible that he could still be on their board when they are on the clock in Day 3. St. Brown played inside and out at Notre Dame, so he isn’t limited in that capacity, but it’s clear his game needs some fine-tuning. Perhaps new WRs Coach Mike Furrey has some additional insight on St. Brown. Remember, Furrey worked with receivers during position drills during the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
On the surface, St. Brown has the build of the type of prospect a team would like to take a flier on in the first round but without the production. That could make him an ideal target for a team like the Bears who can sharpen his skill set and develop with the team while playing at the highest level.
