Bears Draft Target: Jordan Addison |
As we approach the 2023 NFL draft, it will be interesting to see what the Bears decide to do with the No. 1 pick. Most fans would love to see them keep and draft who they feel is the best player, but trading the pick could bring more value than some realize.
When looking at the Bears current roster, you could point to any one of the positions and label it as a position of need. From offensive line to defense, there is no shortage of what this team could do on draft night, making them the biggest mystery the NFL draft has seen in years. One position often overlooked when discussing the Bears roster is the WR position, as they would love to upgrade that. After signing a plethora of WRs last offseason, most of them were either hurt or didn't produce like the Bears wanted them to, thus handing the Bears the worst passing attack in the NFL. The best way to change that is to go out and sign a big-name free agent that you could cement as your No. 1 option. Another way would be drafting the best WR in the class and using a first-round pick to make it happen. Should that be something the Bears are looking to do, then Jordan Addison is the player to watch as his time with USC ends. When you look at the basics regarding Addison, at 6-0 and just 175 pounds, he is very small for an NFL WR. However, he plays much bigger than his size would indicate. Between the University of Pittsburgh and USC, Addison put up great numbers as he had 219 receptions for 3134 yards and 29 TDs. That included a down season this year where he was held to 875 yards on 59 catches while also bringing in eight scores. If that is what you call a down year, sign the Bears up, as they would take that any day of the week. One thing the Bears WR room lacks outside of Darnell Mooney and Velus Jones is speed. Addison not only has elite speed, but his acceleration allows him to separate himself from a defender to make the catch. Not only does Addison possess the speed you look for, but he is a versatile athlete that can be used in the running game on jet sweep plays. Throw in the best hands in the entire draft, and you are looking at an ideal prospect that tons of teams are going to be gunning for. Chicago is positioned to be one of those teams, but that would come at the price of risking their No. 1 pick and having to trade back for him. While his speed is excellent, speed will only get you so far in the NFL, as his small frame does possess some issues. Addison often has difficulty getting free in press coverage as physical corners give him fits. He will see a ton of that in the NFL, which is worth noting. You also have to look at the Bears being a run-first team and Addison being a below-average blocker. That doesn't bode well, as the run helps set up the pass, and all hands need to be on deck in the run-blocking aspect. Another knock on Addison happens to be his red-zone production. Sure, he is a home run threat, ready to make the big play at any moment. However, he is not a genuine red zone threat and struggles with most 50/50 balls in coverage. Should that continue in the NFL, teams will put two guys in coverage on him to virtually neutralize his effectiveness. Heading into 2023, the Bears will need to prioritize finding a true WR1 for their rising star. Addison fits that bill perfectly, but unless the Bears want to trade back to make this selection, he may not be around when they pick again in the second round or late first round. However, of all the WRs that could be available in the first round, Addison has the most potential and could give you 1000 yards plus in year one.
