The Chicago Bears aren’t done adding talent to their wide receivers room this offseason. Despite trading for DJ Moore this offseason and Chase Claypool at the trade deadline in 2022, GM Ryan Poles is doing his homework on the wideouts in the 2023 NFL Draft. You can count on the Bears adding a rookie to the depth chart.
One draft prospect who will visit with the Bears is Michigan State’s Jayden Reed.
Reed (5-foot-11, 187 pounds) was one of the big winners at the 2023 Senior Bowl. He earned WR of the Week for the National Team after dominating practice sessions. And the Chicago Bears took notice.
Jayden Reed is a good fit for Chicago Bears
Jayden Reed continued his positive NFL draft momentum at the Scouting Combine, where he ran a 4.45 40-yard dash. He needed an offseason like he had after posting just 55 catches for 636 yards and five touchdowns in 2022. It was a down season for him, but he battled through injuries that impacted his on-field speed.
Here’s what NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein wrote about Reed in his scouting report:
“Utility wideout with the ability to take snaps at multiple receiver positions while offering both kickoff and punt return talent. Reed looks smaller in many of his matchups, but he is rarely deterred by size. He’s too tight-hipped for stop-start routes on the tree, but he operates with good route speed and should improve his ability to separate with additional development and experience on the next level. His ball skills and feel for positioning on deep throws and jump balls are unquestioned. Limiting his focus drops on short and intermediate throws will be critical to becoming a long-term NFL contributor.”
Reed ranks just outside the top 100 prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft. He should be available when the Chicago Bears select in the third round, and there’s a chance he could slide into the early portion of Day 3.
The Bears don’t need to add an impact starter at wide receiver in this year’s draft. The trade for Moore solved that problem. Still, a player like Reed, who could emerge as a quality starter by his second or third season, would be a wise investment for a Bears offense that’s on the rise.
