The Bears Draft Pick Already Turning Heads Isn't Who You'd Think

Organized Team Activities never tells the full story of whether a Chicago Bears draft pick will end up being good or not. Nor does training camp or the preseason. However, it can at least offer clues as to which ones might be early contributors for their football team provided they get the necessary opportunity. So who might it be in 2019?

Most would probably pick David Montgomery. He's the first choice after all and has the best chance to play given the situation at running back for the Bears. It probably is the safest pick to be sure. Then again, it seems he isn't the one garnering the most buzz on the practice field through the early minicamps and OTAs.

That honor belongs to 4th round pick Riley Ridley. The wide receiver out of Georgia was widely considered by experts to be one of the steals of the draft. A player who was talented enough to go in the 2nd round but for one reason or another fell to the bottom of the 4th and right into the Bears' laps.

Riley Ridley is a unique Chicago Bears draft pick to be sure

What makes Ridley such an interesting case is that he goes against the usual for Chicago. Normally when it comes to wide receivers, they'd tended to target guys who are known for their speed. Route running was secondary. This time around, under the guidance of Matt Nagy, it seems the priorities have shifted. They want players who can run with precision and discipline.

Ridley had it instilled in him early the importance of such things. The same as his older brother Calvin, currently a rising star in Atlanta. The tricky part for Ridley won't be learning the basics or even the advanced mechanics of wide receiver. It will be finding a way to get on the field. In a strange twist of fate, he faces a ton of competition in that regard.

Allen Robinson, Taylor Gabriel, and Anthony Miller seem firmly entrenched as the top three options. Then there's new free agent addition Cordarrelle Patterson. Not to mention Ridley's former Georgia teammate Javon Wims who has been in that system a year longer. That is a ton of obstacles to navigate for reps this year. It will be fun to see how he navigates them.