Chicago Bears Reportedly Have Eyes For Ascending Draft WR

Trading for Keenan Allen was a stroke of genius by Ryan Poles. Even if the Chicago Bears GM only gets the superstar receiver at his best for two more years, it would still be a huge win for the team. That means Caleb Williams or whichever quarterback they take #1 overall will have two Pro Bowl-caliber targets at his disposal during the two more crucial development years for a young quarterback. That said, a smart GM is also always looking to the future. That is why many feel the Bears should still look to take somebody in the draft.

It appears they may have the same thought process. While all eyes are on names like Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze for the 9th overall pick, they aren't the only ones the organization seems to favor. According to a source, Poles and his scouts are doing "extensive" work on Texas wide receiver Adonai Mitchell. The 6'4, 190 lbs target had a breakout year in 2023, going for 845 yards and 11 touchdowns while helping the Longhorns reach the College Football Playoffs. His athletic ceiling and style of play have drawn comparisons to George Pickens of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Chicago Bears' interest in Mitchell is puzzling.

As things stand, most projections have him going somewhere between the bottom of the 1st round and top of the 2nd. The Bears have no picks in that range. That would mean one of two things. Either they plan to trade down from #9, which would open the possibility of taking him later. Or they're hoping he might slip to them in the 3rd round. Both are possibilities but feel like remote ones after the strong pre-draft process he's enjoyed. Either way, the interest in him is easy to understand.

Even with Moore and Allen, the Chicago Bears have nobody for the "X" position at wide receiver. These are the guys typically lined up outside, boasting bigger bodies. This is because they have better chances of beating press coverage and also being an asset in the outside zone run game. Mitchell has no problems being physical in everything he does, and he's got the size too. If the Bears are as interested in him as these rumblings suggest, they might be planning to grab him after a move down.