The Case for Calvin Ridley -- WR Alabama

[dennehy]

I think Ridley is a safe player but not a ton of upside. Good route runner, quick and fast, but not an athletic freak. Also small. He's definitely a guy who could help right away, and if healthy he's be close to a guarantee to be productive. But I don't see him ever being a legit top 10 receiver. As such, not a fan of picking him at 8.

 

[Jack Lame]

I'll get flamed for this I'm sure, but Ridley reminds me A TON of Marvin Harrison. Best pure route runner I have seen in quite some time.

 

[dabears70]

Idk if he’d be gone. Highest I’ve seen him on any mock is 8 to us. There should be 3-4 qbs taken before we pick too based on how many teams need qbs picking in front of us. Barkley and Chubb will be gone too.

Then again I can’t really deny the power of a good combine. If Ridley runs a 4.3 40 it wouldn’t be shocking to see his stock soar.

A lot of people on here dislike him but I think he’s one of the more polished receiving prospects to come out in a while. Fast, good size, great route running, can run every single route in the route tree proficiently, can play every position, fantastic hands.

And Ridley won’t be 24 until the end of next season.

I don't think anyone on here doesn't like C.Ridley and the skills he has, they just don't think any WR is worth the pick as high as #8 and are also looking at the bust potential of WR's taken that high and the list is long. Ridley is a special player and if we drafted him at #8 i'd be good with it, but i myself think the need at OLB is big as well and think we can either take care of WR in free agency or draft one of the many that will be sitting there when we pick in the 2nd round, like A.Miller, or even later in the draft depending on what we do at WR in free agency.

It's so hard to talk draft when we haven't even got to free agency yet. We could get A.Robinson or J.Landry, if we can't get one of those two then we might get a couple of the tier 2 type WR's like P.Richardson, John or Jaron Brown and then grab a WR in the mid rounds to go with one of them and Meredith. Now if we take care of OLB in free agency then i'd be more then happy to take Ridley at #8 but i could see them going OL as well.

 

[Jack Lame]

I think Ridley is a safe player but not a ton of upside. Good route runner, quick and fast, but not an athletic freak. Also small. He's definitely a guy who could help right away, and if healthy he's be close to a guarantee to be productive. But I don't see him ever being a legit top 10 receiver. As such, not a fan of picking him at 8.

In 2015 we took the athletic freak that couldn't run routes..

I'd rather go with the football player Ridley, not the workout warrior.

 

[gallagher]

I've been in the "draft Ridley" camp all year. Being high enough and fast enough to be a competitor in this league is great, but what makes him worth a top 10 pick is his route running.

Almost every rookie WR just doesn't have it coming it and needs to be trained up in that discipline, but Ridley is pro-ready. He makes good cuts, he accelerates out of them. That gets separation at the NFL level, he'll be able to contribute early because of that. I am willing to bet that, barring injury, Ridley puts up more yards than any bears receiver did this past season.

 

[bears26]

I was super unimpressed with him in the NC game. Didn't display great hands. Seemed like the pressure got to him.

That is just one game though. And typically Alabama WR's have done well in the NFL which I didn't expect.

After David Terrell and Kevin White, I just can't draft a WR top 10. I know its superstitious. But some player types just don't work out for certain franchises.

Let's see what we can do in free agency first. Remember that Cohen was factor this year and Shaheen should be a factor next year. Add in Meredith and some free agents and we will be in better shape than we were this year.

The one thing he did do in the championship game is display great hands. The first reception was low and was an outstanding catch. The one he dove for in the end zone was in his hands, stretched out and had it in his hands and would have made the reception. The defender made a good play on the ball and stripped away at the last second. Given that, #8 seems a bit high for him considering his age. Later in the round, yes, just not in the top 10.

 

[dabears70]

Sorry but to me, he does way too much catching with his body and not his hands.

I would not draft this guy in the first, maybe not at all - he's fast but does not remind me of a top caliber NFL receiver whatsoever.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

That's a great point and something to take seriously if you're correct about him not catching with his hands and using his body more.

 

[dweebs19]

Ridley may be the most pro ready, but I don't think he has as much upside. I think he's a high floor, low ceiling kinda guy.

 

[Toast88]

I think he'll be an absolute stud, and unlike many other recent draft picks, he'll be an NFL-ready impact player from Day 1. The Bears need that, whether it comes at pick#8 or pick#28. Here's their chance.

I don't care that he's a WR and people don't like WR in the first. When you look back, the best picks of the draft are the best players, period, regardless of position. If you could re-draft the 2017 draft, some of the top picks would be Watson, Kamara, Hunt and Smith-Shuster, despite three of those holding positions that modern wisdom says don't need to be gotten in the first round.

You get the best damn guy you can who you think is best for your team. If Pace thinks that's Ridley, that's fine. My fear is that we pass on him and pick up a competent WR in the 2nd/3rd, only to watch from afar as Ridley turns into a very good NFL receiver, which is exactly what will happen if the Bears pass on him. The only thing that will ease that sting is for the Bears to get someone even better at #8.

 

[gallagher]

Also, can we just get over his age and move on? He will be 24 at the end of the season, when other draftees will be turning 23. It's not like he has extra years of mileage on him. To hold it against him is making a big deal out of nothing.

Suppose we take the 5th year option on his rookie contract, we can still expect him to be productive through a second contract after that. There is nothing to suggest that Ridley can't give 10 good years to whoever drafts him.

 

[Myk]

they just don't think any WR is worth the pick as high as #8

That's the problem. So we basically Cutler Trubisky until his brains are mashed potatoes.
They don't want to do what it takes to have a winning NFL team. They want to stick with what hasn't worked in Chicago outside of 85 but not even then because we did have a high pick QB and we did have an offense around him.

I don't like to talk players this early rather positions. And we do need a great WR and it doesn't look like it will be from FA. That means 2019 before a drafted WR is really into the game. 2020 or beyond (to never) for as low as some are suggesting.
Hey, we never win and busted our shiny QB but at least we didn't draft a bust WR with our #8, just a busted O or D player. There we are back with a mediocre team drafting midround unable to pull out of it.

If a great WR is there at 8 this would be a good year to grab him. Otherwise we may be waiting years for a great one to drop to #18.

 

[NCChiFan]

saw him play 1 game. Not impressed. His brother impressed me more.

 

[msadows]

That's a great point and something to take seriously if you're correct about him not catching with his hands and using his body more.

His hands are one of his best attributes. Soft as charmin just absorbing balls.

 

[dweebs19]

If I'm picking in the top 10, I want a player who is far and above better than the rest of his group in the draft class. I really don't see how Ridley is that much better than Sutton or Kirk. Plus these other guys are 3 years younger. I think by the time they get to Ridley's age, they will be better than him at his current age

 

[Toast88]

That's the problem. So we basically Cutler Trubisky until his brains are mashed potatoes.
They don't want to do what it takes to have a winning NFL team. They want to stick with what hasn't worked in Chicago outside of 85 but not even then because we did have a high pick QB and we did have an offense around him.

I don't like to talk players this early rather positions. And we do need a great WR and it doesn't look like it will be from FA. That means 2019 before a drafted WR is really into the game. 2020 or beyond (to never) for as low as some are suggesting.
Hey, we never win and busted our shiny QB but at least we didn't draft a bust WR with our #8, just a busted O or D player. There we are back with a mediocre team drafting midround unable to pull out of it.

If a great WR is there at 8 this would be a good year to grab him. Otherwise we may be waiting years for a great one to drop to #18.

Exactly.

Also, Bears fans forget that every other position is just as likely to bust as WR, statistically speaking. I'd rather swing for the fences and come up short, than play it safe AND STILL COME UP SHORT.

The mentality of people afraid to get a WR at 8 is the same damn mentality that stopped the Bears from taking a chance at a first round QB for so many many years. If you redrafted each of the past several drafts, at least one WR would likely be taken top 10 in each year.

If you don't think Ridley is good enough to go top 8, that's fine. That's your opinion.

But if you don't want to take Ridley because you have something against picking a WR in the top 10, you're just wrong.

 

[CHICAGOMIDWAYMONSTERS]

I think we trade down an get picks. Lots of solid WRs later in draft an free agency. I wouldnt mind even getting another TE. Supposedly the draft is deep in TEs again this year.

Simmie Cobbs Jr Chicago Kid
Deon Cain
Allen Lazard
Courtland Sutton
Equanimeous St Brown
Christian Kirk
James Washington

Im tempted to draft 2 of these guys

 

[msadows]

If I'm picking in the top 10, I want a player who is far and above better than the rest of his group in the draft class. I really don't see how Ridley is that much better than Sutton or Kirk. Plus these other guys are 3 years younger. I think by the time they get to Ridley's age, they will be better than him at his current age

Because Sutton can’t run polished cuts in and out of his routes which will end up hurting his seperation in the nfl. As far as Kirk, I like him a lot but most of his damage is from the slot where as Ridleys was outside. If Kirk is there At 2 id love him but idk if he will be around for our pick especially with a good combine

 

[The Doctor]

I liked Sutton better as a prospect, but I think Ridley fits Nagys' system much better. I would be happy to get Ridley. I would be ecstatic if we could some how get The CB from IOWA Josh Jackson in the first and then get Texas A&M WR Christian Kirk in the 2nd maybe even if we have to trade up for him.

I was going to say the exact same thing. I admit to not knowing much about Jackson until one of the mock draft threads mentioned him as a possible pick at #8. I said no way and then I watched his highlight vid. Wow! The dude makes big time plays. If the Bears can draft him and sign Fuller we would be set a CB for a long time.
Then draft Kirk or Miller in the 2nd and I think we're good.

 

[Myk]

Exactly.

Also, Bears fans forget that every other position is just as likely to bust as WR, statistically speaking. I'd rather swing for the fences and come up short, than play it safe AND STILL COME UP SHORT.

The mentality of people afraid to get a WR at 8 is the same damn mentality that stopped the Bears from taking a chance at a first round QB for so many many years. If you redrafted each of the past several drafts, at least one WR would likely be taken top 10 in each year.

I don't understand the thought that we can't draft a WR reliably in the first but we can in later rounds. If Pace can't draft a WR in the first he can't draft WRs period.

I certainly wouldn't hold White's bones against Pace. If anyone can see that White can play with his very minimal play time then there is no worries about Pace drafting WRs.
I remember trading a 2nd for Gaines Adams who suffered a slight health issue and nobody said we shouldn't use a 2nd on defense ever again.

 

[dweebs19]

I don't understand the thought that we can't draft a WR reliably in the first but we can in later rounds. If Pace can't draft a WR in the first he can't draft WRs period.

I certainly wouldn't hold White's bones against Pace. If anyone can see that White can play with his very minimal play time then there is no worries about Pace drafting WRs.
I remember trading a 2nd for Gaines Adams who suffered a slight health issue and nobody said we shouldn't use a 2nd on defense ever again.

I don't think it's about being afraid to draft a WR in the first. I think it's about value. There's not as much as a big drop off in WRs. I've seen some mocks that have Sutton being the first WR drafted. If we were picking in the teens, I think people would be ok with Ridley. Just not in the top 10