Fixing the WR Position

[Ares]

A majority of the best WRs in the league were drafted in the first round.

Amari Cooper, OBJ, Julio Jones, AJ Green, Mike Evans, Demariyus Thomas, Dez Bryant, Larry Fitzgerald, Deandre Hopkins

Only elite WRs missing from this list that weren't drafted in the first are Antonio Brown and Jordy Nelson

Yeah Idk that WRs are significantly more dangerous in the 1st than any other position.

We've seen 1st round OTs bust twice in Williams and Carimi.... 1st line DT/DEs bust...

If I'm Pace and I like a specific WR next year, I go and get him, just like with Trubisky...

In the last 20 years the only two 1st round WR we drafted are Kevin White and David Terrel.... both are busts, but we have 3 OTs in the 1st round who busted, so if any position is worthy of us shying away from it in the 1st, it would be OT over WR.

 

[WindyCity]

A majority of the best WRs in the league were drafted in the first round.

Amari Cooper, OBJ, Julio Jones, AJ Green, Mike Evans, Demariyus Thomas, Dez Bryant, Larry Fitzgerald, Deandre Hopkins

Only elite WRs missing from this list that weren't drafted in the first are Antonio Brown and Jordy Nelson

I agree, but it is still terrifying as many bust.

If you want a legit #1 WR you pretty much have to go to the draft. The same can be said for OLB, which the Bears also need.

 

[WindyCity]

Yeah Idk that WRs are significantly more dangerous in the 1st than any other position.

We've seen 1st round OTs bust twice in Williams and Carimi.... 1st line DT/DEs bust...

If I'm Pace and I like a specific WR next year, I go and get him, just like with Trubisky...

In the last 20 years the only two 1st round WR we drafted are Kevin White and David Terrel.... both are busts, but we have 3 OTs in the 1st round who busted, so if any position is worthy of us shying away from it in the 1st, it would be OT over WR.

I will look for the article, but I am pretty sure they have the 2nd highest bust rate in the 1st round, but I am also pretty sure that pass rushers are 3rd so maybe there is no less risk.

 

[WindyCity]

https://fivethirtyeight.com/feature...riskier-to-pick-than-others-in-the-nfl-draft/

 

[RiDLer80]

I agree, but it is still terrifying as many bust.

If you want a legit #1 WR you pretty much have to go to the draft. The same can be said for OLB, which the Bears also need.

I'd go OLB in the first. Elite pass rushers are rarely ever available in the open market. Plus we'll be in prime position to get one of Arden Key or Harold Landry.

This is a good year to spend money on a free agent WR if you're afraid of the risk they have in the first. A lot of veteran, proven commodities will be available this free agency: Alshon, Mike Wallace, Sammy Watkins, Terrell Pryor, Jarvis Landry, Martavis Bryant, Allen Robinson, Jordan Matthews, Donte Moncrief, Davante Adams

 

[Ares]

I will look for the article, but I am pretty sure they have the 2nd highest bust rate in the 1st round, but I am also pretty sure that pass rushers are 3rd so maybe there is no less risk.

I am not shocked if they tend to bust at a higher rate, I am just saying we have as much reason, as Bears fans, to be gun shy about OT or Dline busting as we've seen it happen multiple times in the last 15-20 years.

If Pace thinks he sees a #1 WR to pair with Trubisky, I would prefer he take that gamble rather than just playing it safe hoping a lower rate bust OLB/DE/DT/OT won't bust.

If he sees a pass rusher he can't live without, I wouldn't be mad at that either.

I just don't think Pace should be gun shy about the WR position in the draft if he sees one and feels strongly about that player.

I don't advocate he simply go WR in the 1st just to say he did it, that would be bad.

 

[dabears70]

There are a couple of tier 2 WRs that interest me and that may fit the Pace free agency method better than Jarvis Landry or other big money signings.

Marqise Lee [Jacksonville]: shifty and a good route runner and will get more playing time now that Robinson is injured. Could have even more upside when paired with an accurate QB that will allow him to run.

Jordan Matthews [Buffalo] He has good size at 6'3" and he caught a lot of TDs in Philly. Doesn't have great speed, but he is a slot mismatch because of his size.

Paul Richardson [Seattle] has been injured, but he can absolutely fly.

Taylor Gabriel [Atlanta] tiny, but so fast and has been productive in the slot and on the outside.

Oof, maybe M.Lee or P.Richardson as our slot WR's with Meredith as our #2 and sign A.Robinson, J.Landry, A.Jeffery or S.Watkins as our #1. I don't like J.Mathews at all though.

#1 WR--A.Robinson, J.Landry, A.Jeffery, S.Watkins

#2 WR--C.Meredith, M.Lee, M.Bryant or D.Adams

#3 WR/Slot--P.Richardson, T.Gabriel or K.Wright

I'd have no problem at all if Pace spent a big chunk or our cap on two of the top WR's in free agency next season. I'm sure none of us would.

 

[dabears70]

Yeah Idk that WRs are significantly more dangerous in the 1st than any other position.

We've seen 1st round OTs bust twice in Williams and Carimi.... 1st line DT/DEs bust...

If I'm Pace and I like a specific WR next year, I go and get him, just like with Trubisky...

In the last 20 years the only two 1st round WR we drafted are Kevin White and David Terrel.... both are busts, but we have 3 OTs in the 1st round who busted, so if any position is worthy of us shying away from it in the 1st, it would be OT over WR.

Yeah i think the last WR we drafted in the 1st round that we hit on was C.Conway and that was in like 92/93

 

[playthrough2001]

I think grabbing Landry and pairing him with a big dude like Courtland Sutton would work well. Sutton (like Jeffrey) could well drop to the 2nd round due to the fact he probably will not wow scouts with his speed. Landry, Sutton, Wheaton, Meredith, Wright (if they bring him back) and either Gentry or White as the 6th is a big improvement over the current group. I'd love to see them draft Orlando Brown Jr. in the first. He's a monster with good feet that will be able to play either OT spot in the NFL. I'd be happy with a starting o-line with Leno, Long, Whitehair, Sitton and Brown next season. Morgan should be ready to step up as a back up guard and I wouldn't be afraid to keep Massie for OT depth. Kush might be a piece too.

 

[WindyCity]

I think grabbing Landry and pairing him with a big dude like Courtland Sutton would work well. Sutton (like Jeffrey) could well drop to the 2nd round due to the fact he probably will not wow scouts with his speed. Landry, Sutton, Wheaton, Meredith, Wright (if they bring him back) and either Gentry or White as the 6th is a big improvement over the current group. I'd love to see them draft Orlando Brown Jr. in the first. He's a monster with good feet that will be able to play either OT spot in the NFL. I'd be happy with a starting o-line with Leno, Long, Whitehair, Sitton and Brown next season. Morgan should be ready to step up as a back up guard and I wouldn't be afraid to keep Massie for OT depth. Kush might be a piece too.

I do not know if we need to be as concerned with size with Trubisky.

With Jay we needed size because he was not very accurate and he threw a ton of contested jump balls.

With Trubisky I think we need to emphasize speed and ability after the catch.

 

[WindyCity]

Oof, maybe M.Lee or P.Richardson as our slot WR's with Meredith as our #2 and sign A.Robinson, J.Landry, A.Jeffery or S.Watkins as our #1. I don't like J.Mathews at all though.

#1 WR--A.Robinson, J.Landry, A.Jeffery, S.Watkins

#2 WR--C.Meredith, M.Lee, M.Bryant or D.Adams

#3 WR/Slot--P.Richardson, T.Gabriel or K.Wright

I'd have no problem at all if Pace spent a big chunk or our cap on two of the top WR's in free agency next season. I'm sure none of us would.

That would be a huge spend at WR.

He has not shown a willingness to do that.

 

[Da Coach]

They screwed up by not signing Garcon. I think we need to trade for someone in addition to drafting a couple.

Why not swing for the fences and try to land a trade for AJ Green after the season?

The Bengals are going no where fast

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[playthrough2001]

I do not know if we need to be as concerned with size with Trubisky.

With Jay we needed size because he was not very accurate and he threw a ton of contested jump balls.

With Trubisky I think we need to emphasize speed and ability after the catch.

Windy, it's always nice to have a guy that can bully smaller corners and is "open" even if he's not really open. I do love your call out on Washington too. He has excellent hands and can run after the catch.

 

[RiDLer80]

Windy, it's always nice to have a guy that can bully smaller corners and is "open" even if he's not really open. I do love your call out on Washington too. He has excellent hands and can run after the catch.

I guess if he develops, Shaheen can be that big bodied guy. If not him maybe Meredith if he gets healthy.

But I agree it's nice to have one of those jump-ball/box-out type receivers that are open even if they're covered.

 

[BearbaFett]

**** it. Go big.

Bring me Jarvis Landry and Martavis Bryant.

We wouldn't have to worry about whether Meredith got healthy again and we could part ways with Kevin White.

it really is ryan pace's style to hit our weakest area hard in free agency

2016 - ILB - replaced anderson/timu with trevathan/freeman

2017 - secondary - replaced porter/glenn/jones-quartey with amukamara/cooper/demps

i guess he kinda tried with WR this past offseason with wright/wheaton/cruz, but i have a feeling he's going for WR1 and WR2 next offseason

 

[rawdawg]

There are a couple of tier 2 WRs that interest me and that may fit the Pace free agency method better than Jarvis Landry or other big money signings.

Marqise Lee [Jacksonville]: shifty and a good route runner and will get more playing time now that Robinson is injured. Could have even more upside when paired with an accurate QB that will allow him to run.

Jordan Matthews [Buffalo] He has good size at 6'3" and he caught a lot of TDs in Philly. Doesn't have great speed, but he is a slot mismatch because of his size.

Paul Richardson [Seattle] has been injured, but he can absolutely fly.

Taylor Gabriel [Atlanta] tiny, but so fast and has been productive in the slot and on the outside.

All solid names. Best thing about them, only Gabriel is 26 years old. The others are all 25 (though Lee turns 26 before the season ends). Matthews is more of a big possession type, but had a really big season with Chip Kelly calling plays in Philly. I'd imagine the Bears will go for an offensive coach that could definitely get Matthews back to that level of play. Not a huge Gabriel guy and Lee is ideally a #3 type or WR, but Paul Richardson is extremely interesting. He's fast, got good enough height, not very big, but I think potentially he's a much better version of what the Bears hope they have in Wheaton. Or basically a guy with peak Bernard Berrian upside for 4-5 years.

 

[PeterMbangala]

I do not know if we need to be as concerned with size with Trubisky.

With Jay we needed size because he was not very accurate and he threw a ton of contested jump balls.

With Trubisky I think we need to emphasize speed and ability after the catch.

I think this also makes sense in terms of the kind of offense we should be running. With Howard and Cohen we need a credible deep threat, a good P.A. game and another shifty runner.

We don't need a big tall guy as much.

 

[marioworld]

I think with Trubisky finding guys that are really good route runners is most important, all the greats are known for that. And Trub's skills lend to that being a priority; he has really good anticipation, good accuracy, can extend plays...

 

[bamainatlanta]

I agree. Meredith is a solid #2, but there are only two teams in the NFL that would have him as a #1 the Bears and the Jets. IMO, we need a big, strong, reliable target. A Brandon Marshall type. Run good routes, know how to get open, and catch the ball is #1a, 1b, 1c. Speed is #2. It is easy to find fast receivers. The hard part is finding receivers that understand how to play receiver.

If Jeffery stays healthy all season for he Eagles, is it crazy to hope he would be willing to come back? I think he would need to see Trubs play well before the end of the season and if he stays healthy and has a good season this year, he will want to get PAID$$$$. I have not seen the list of unrestricted FA WR's for next year, but I cannot imagine there will be many better than a HEALTHY Alshon. To me, he would EASILY step in and be the unquestioned #1

I've prepared myself so flame on...

Jeffery wants nothing to do with Chicago or living in Chicago for that matter. I know some wealthy USC boosters that have always told me he did not want to be there. Quit dreaming.

 

[playthrough2001]

Jeffery wants nothing to do with Chicago or living in Chicago for that matter. I know some wealthy USC boosters that have always told me he did not want to be there. Quit dreaming.

Then he goes to Philadelphia of all places.