2024 Bears Draft Target: Keon Coleman |
When you look at this year's upcoming NFL draft, it could go down as the deepest when it comes to the skill positions. Whether it be at the QB position where six players have a shot to be first or second-round picks or the loaded WR position, teams are going to loathe at the opportunity to nab one of these players.
Ironically, the Bears will be one of those teams, as they could be in the market for both a QB and a WR with both of their first-round picks. The only way they get both would be to land Caleb Williams as No. 1 overall and then double down with WR at No. 9, but either way, the Bears are going to have options. Right now, DJ Moore is the go-to guy on offense, but apart from him, the Bears only have a little to offer at the WR position. Darnell Mooney is a Free Agent, Equanimeous St. Brown hasn't panned out, Velus Jones hasn't shown much of anything, and Tyler Scott is coming off a rookie season. Regardless of who the Bears have at QB next season, adding more WR help is a must, and Keon Coleman could be a player the Bears target outside the top 10 as a realistic option. Not mentioned as much as Marvin Harrison Jr, Rome Oduze, or Malik Nabers, Coleman has the potential to be just as good, if not better, than some of those players. Much younger than most at 20 years old, Coleman has the size and speed you look for from an outside WR, standing at 6-4 and weighing 215 pounds. Coleman is the definition of a playmaker, although his production went down a bit this season, which is surprising when you look at the year Jordan Travis had. Across his 14 games this season, Coleman logged 50 receptions, 658 yards, and 11 touchdowns. The receptions and yardage were way down from that of previous seasons, but his overall end-zone production went up, so take that with a grain of salt. For his career, Coleman was a massive part of the Seminoles offense as he picked up 115 receptions, 1,506 yards, 19 touchdowns during his time in Tallahassee. One of his strengths is his sheer size and speed, as he has the prototypical build that you look for a WR. Having the size to go up and get jump balls is one thing, but when you have the speed he has to go with, it makes for a lethal combo that many defenders have a hard time dealing with. Coleman also has some of the best hands in this year's class and has proven that his entire career thus far. Those hands come in hands as he also has Strong route-running ability and the ability to create separation. Creating separation is the key here, as you need to be able to create separation in the NFL if you want to make plays. While his potential is off the charts, he also has the lowest floor of any big-name wide receivers on the market. That means he will be putting up massive numbers when things are going well, but when things go south, he will struggle. Not having the hip flexibility on cutting routes is an issue, as teams shadowed him on specific routes to take him out of his game. Although not required to run-block a lot, Coleman was a terrible run blocker as the Seminoles averaged less than 3.3 YPC when they ran to his side. That doesn't bode well in the NFL, especially when it comes to the Bears, as they will continue to be one of the best-rushing teams in the NFL. He has the speed to beat you over the top but he isn't Tyreke Hill, so any team drafting him will have to hone that in a bit, or they will be disappointed. Chicago is looking for multiple wide receiver options this offseason and for that young start to pair alongside Moore for the foreseeable future. Anyone of the big four would be an instant upgrade, and Coleman finds himself on that list. Coleman’s size, length, and athleticism will make him an immediate mismatch for most NFL defensive backs. He can play on all three levels and will be an elite red-zone threat. Pairing him with Moore gives the Bears two incredible playmakers on the outside but also adds a player who can attack teams from the outside, which opens up the underneath areas for Moore to get to the open field. A move like this is solely made when a team feels like they can compete, and the Bears are getting to that point.
