Chicago Bears Deemed Perfect Fit For Likely 1st Round Receiver

One thing is certain. It would be stunning if the Chicago Bears went through the 2023 draft without picking a wide receiver. The position is thin for them. While they traded for Chase Claypool, they still lacked the firepower needed to open up the passing game. He and Darnell Mooney could be a solid combo, but a third piece is necessary to help Justin Fields start elevating. GM Ryan Poles will have some exciting options this April. What nobody can say for sure is who he may or may not have eyes for.

ESPN insider Matt Miller has an idea. He's done tons of work on the upcoming class. His rankings may not line up with others. It got interesting when he listed Jordan Addison of USC as his #2 guy, trailing only Jaxon Smith-Njiba of Ohio State. He feels Addison is the best route runner in the entire class. Scouts think he's being overlooked because of his slightly less prolific 2022 and thinner frame.

One thing is clear. Anybody needing a receiver has to consider him.

Addison lacks great size at 6-foot and 175 pounds, but another scout is a fan of his body type and makeup. "People have to see him in person. He's not a lean 175 pounds. The dude is rocked up, plays very strong and is physical. He's my top WR, and I'll bet you he's a top-20 pick."

With Addison nursing an ankle injury and missing the Cotton Bowl, scouts are anxious to see him work out at the NFL scouting combine. His tape doesn't show elite speed, so all eyes will be on his 40-yard dash time. Much like Garrett Wilson last year, if Addison can impress on the track, his film is good enough to warrant a selection in the front half of Round 1. He did have two games with more than 170 receiving yards this year, and his agility and lower-body control -- and the way he uses them to separate in his route tree -- are outstanding. Addison has the tools to become one of the league's best route runners early in his career.

NFL comparison: Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers

Best team fits: Houston Texans, Chicago Bears, New York Giants

The Chicago Bears would have to get creative for Addison.

If Miller is right and Poles develops a liking for the USC standout, then he has work to do. There is no way the Bears GM could justify taking Addison with the #1 or #2 overall pick. That means he'd have to trade down from those spots to an area where it would be considered more acceptable. Initial projections have him going in the 10-20 range. So either the Bears would need to trade with a team with two 1st round picks (Detroit or Seattle), or he'd have to drop into that area from #1 or #2. The logistics of such a move would be a nightmare, but it would secure tons of extra draft capital. Adding a talented receiver on top of that would make fans happy.

Will this happen? It doesn't feel likely. If the Chicago Bears do move down, it will likely be somewhere in the top 10, not the teens. Everything points to them being focused on the trenches in the 1st round, offensively or defensively. There is no question that Poles will seek a wide receiver at some point. Most likely somewhere between the 2nd and 4th rounds. Getting Addison would be great, but it's one of those situations where the team's position and the player's likely range are too far apart.