NEWSLETTER
Bears GM Ryan Poles didn’t mention wide receiver when was rattling off positions that have depth that will leak into the second and third days of the NFL Draft.
To some, that felt like a sign that the Bears would (once again) kick the can down the road in finding receiver help for quarterback Justin Fields. But to others, the snub might be seen as a hint that Chicago could be aggressive in the second round. And with the Bears having the 39 and 48th picks, they very well could be lining up a pass-catcher in an area that looks to be a sweet spot for this position.
One player they could have in mind is Cincinnati’s Alec Pierce, whose name has been popular in Bears draft circles.
Pro Football Network’s Troy Pauline writes Pierce is a receiver to watch in the second round. And while there is no shortage of teams who could come calling, the most notable (at least, from where I stand) is the Bears. Pauline reports Chicago’s football team has “shown a lot of interest” in ahead of the draft. And with good reason:
#Bears need a vertical X and there’s a few to choose from in the draft. Alec Pierce WR out of Cincy is one of those guys. Explosive WR that wins with speed and size. Great at stacking once he wins vertically. Shades of DK Metcalf. Invited and will be at Bears local day next week. pic.twitter.com/cyhLyJoUjI
— Brandon Robinson (@BRobNFL) April 1, 2022
Cincinnati WR Alec Pierce is a draft crush mine, my WR7.
His explosiveness, top-end speed, and leaping ability is S-tier. Combine with his frame, insane body control, and release game and you have yourself a very dangerous man.
He absolutely destroyed Notre Dame in 2021. 👇🏼 pic.twitter.com/NkFp4J9fUm
— Brett Whitefield (@BGWhitefield) April 20, 2022
Pierce, a Glen Ellyn (Ill.) product who checks in at 6-3 and 211 pounds, put on a show at the NFL Scouting Combine. Running the 40-yard dash in 4.41 seconds and clearing 40.5 inches in the vertical jump will certainly open eyes. Showing out at the Combine after posting a 52-catch, 884-yard, 7 TD season in which he averaged 17 yards per reception essentially has Pierce in that second tier of receiver prospects who have upside and the ability to out-pay a Day 2 draft placement.
But Pauline hears that Pierce is moving up draft boards. So much so that Pierce might not make it to the third round, projections have long been pegging him to go. Instead, there is growing buzz that Pierce will find a home in Round 2. If that’s how the cookie crumbles, expect a host of teams (in addition to the Bears at pick 48) to consider taking Pierce. Pauline name-checks the Cardinals and Chiefs as teams with picks in the later half of the second round who could pluck the Cincy receiver. But also keep an eye on the Colts (42nd pick) and Packers (of course 🙄🙄🙄) who have the 53rd pick.
