Ryan Pace knew the deck was stacked against him this year. Getting a Chicago Bears draft steal without a 1st or 2nd round pick, not to mention picking towards the bottom of each round after making the playoffs, provided major challenges. It would be the biggest proving ground for the 42-year old GM and his scouts yet.
Most agree they started things off well enough. Trading up from #87 to #73 to snag Iowa State running back David Montgomery checked the biggest box remaining for Chicago this offseason. They'd found their Jordan Howard replacement. Somebody who was a much better fit for Matt Nagy's offense.
Yet he wasn't the one that the NFL community became enamored with in the Bears draft class. The one that felt like he should've gone much earlier but somehow fell into their laps. That honor belonged to Georgia wide receiver Riley Ridley in the 4th round.
Chicago Bears draft steal Riley Ridley is beloved by draft experts
Normally with a certain pick there are one or two prominent experts will say the team got good value for him. With Ridley, it's much different. Several respected analysts and even a prominent Bears critic unanimously agree the receiver had no business being on the board at #126 overall.
Daniel Jeremiah (NFL Network)
"I think this is a perfect fit in this offense. Tremendous value. They just got a top 50 player in my opinion."
Todd McShay (ESPN)
"I was really expecting Ridley to go in Round 3 or at least early in Round 4. This is just great, great value for a talented possession receiver."
Chad Reuter (NFL.com)
"Getting Ridley in the fourth round was an absolute steal. I thought he was a second-round value."
Dane Brugler (The Athletic)
"Back-to-back years the Bears getting great value on day three of the draft with Georgia receivers. WR Riley Ridley isn't as dynamic as Calvin, but you see the same attention to detail as route-runners and that plays in the NFL."
Colin Cowherd (The Herd)
"Chicago Bears just got Georgia WR Riley Ridley. Why did he last this long? Big in every bulldog game I watched. Tough. Dependable. Feels like a total steal."
Pro Football Focus
"Chicago came away from Day 3 with a steal in the fourth round in former Georgia wide receiver Riley Ridley."
Ridley is the younger brother of Atlanta Falcons former 1st round Calvin Ridley who scored 10 touchdowns as a rookie in 2018. While he isn't as fast as his older sibling, he is taller and more thickly built. His ability to shrug off physical coverage, make tough catches and stay on his feet have great value in the NFL.
It's also something the Bears were missing last season. Don't be surprised if he sees the field early in 2019.
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