NEWSLETTER
Although we’re happy about the organizational reset, former GM Ryan Pace left the Bears in a pretty weird spot. On the one hand, his successor, Ryan Poles, is inheriting a team with the 11th most cap space, which is great/useful/exciting/whatever. But on the other, the Bears have up to 35 pending free agents who could be out the door when the new league year begins on March 16. Room to maneuver, but a lot of maneuvering to do.
So then, we understand the renewed focus on stockpiling talent via the draft, even if the Bears project to have just five picks and no first-rounder. Considering the laundry list of needs across the roster, it’s unreasonable to think that the Bears will get everything they want (or need) this offseason through the draft. Even if they were lucky. Nevertheless, the idea of re-stocking this roster piece-by-pice in the draft is alluring. Particularly at wide receiver.
The 2022 NFL Scouting combine is loaded at wide receiver. Forty receivers were invited to the event being held this week in Indianapolis. And when it comes to possible Bears fits, ESPN’s Jordan Reid offers up Georgia receiver George Pickens as a prospect to watch during Combine Week. And with good reason, I suppose:
https://twitter.com/espn/status/1480722115854745604
Welcome back, George Pickens#CFB
— PFF Draft (@PFF_College) December 4, 2021
https://twitter.com/SECNetwork/status/1212570077297594369
OH MY, GEORGE PICKENS 😱 pic.twitter.com/N4qo9X4HB4
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) September 7, 2019
Let George Pickens declare, @ NFL pic.twitter.com/aiHeySvLSs
— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) January 1, 2021
Pickens has so much potential.
At 6-3 and 200 pounds, Pickens possesses the ideal frame for a WR1. He also flashed big play potential throughout his college career, snagging 49 catches, 727 receiving yards, and 8 touchdowns as a freshman in 2019 (add another 7 catches, 135 yards, and 1 TD in the 2020 Peach Bowl). By contrast, Pickens’ most recent season was cut short due to an ACL injury that took him down in March 2021. But he was able to came back from the injury to play some snaps during Georgia’s national championship season, speaking to his commitment and ability to bounce back.
It’s also worth noting that Pickens projects to be in that sweet spot where the Bears will be drafting in Round 2. PFF has Pickens as its WR9, CBS Sports has the Georgia product as WR6, and ESPN lists him as WR17. That is a range of differing data points on the high and low wends. But there are so many quality NFL-caliber receiver prospects in this class, we could get 10 different pundits in the same room and get 10 very different variations of the top-10.
Naturally, Pickens thinks highly of himself and what his draft stock should be:
#UGA WR George Pickens was asked how confident he is that he’s a first rounder.
“I’m very confident. I know I can present to teams exactly what a first round pick is.” pic.twitter.com/qVvMMK6OAP
— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) March 2, 2022
I love a receiver with confidence. And knowing that the Bears are looking for a WR1 for Justin Fields, we’d be smart to follow Reid’s advice and keep an eye on Pickens this week. That combination of size, speed, skill, and swag has the makings of an ideal WR1-in-the-making.
