Corey Coleman Could Be Chicago Bears Missing Link

Thanks to his efforts in free agency, GM Ryan Pace must be feeling pretty good right about now.  Why?  Thanks to his maneuvers, he has created a considerable amount of flexibility going into the NFL draft this coming April.  So much in fact that he’s virtually free to go after whatever player he wants with the 11th overall pick.  Even if that player might not be filling the most immediate roster needs.  That includes going back to a position he hit in the 1st round last year at wide receiver.

The reason being all the top options stand a good chance of being there, including one of the most exciting in the class in Corey Coleman out of Baylor.  As it so happens he was scheduled to meet with the team.

Why would he interest the Bears?  One word:  speed.  He’s among the fastest in the entire 2016 draft class.  Word is he ran a 4.37 in the 40-yard dash at his pro day and wasn’t even fully recovered from surgery on a sports hernia.  It goes beyond that though.  Coleman is a playmaker.  He scored 20 touchdowns in his final season at Baylor, showcasing an ability to not only run fast but get himself open and create yards after the catch.  Here is a snippet from his scouting report on NFL.com.

"“Instant blur off the snap. Feet turn over at a blinding pace and he devours cushion before cornerbacks know what hit them. Able to get over the top of every corner he faced and demands safety help over the top. Works back to the ball. Explosive leaper with ability to climb ladder and win the 50/50 ball and body control to secure the acrobatic catch.”"

If that weren’t enough, he offers added value as a punt returner.

So it’s time to see this from the perspective of the Bears.  They are looking to get faster and more explosive, both offensively and defensively.  Coleman would be a step in the right direction, and Pace has to be drooling over the prospects of pairing a speedy talent like Coleman with the twin towers of Alshon Jeffery and Kevin White.  Once can imagine how dangerous that receiving trio would be.  Jay Cutler would certainly be a happy man.

Some will argue that taking Corey Coleman at #11 would be too high.  He’s too short (5’11”) and has a bad tendency to drop passes.  It’s a valid point.  However, there is no way this kid is falling to the 2nd round and the Chicago Bears know like every other team that there is a famine of fast receivers in this draft.  So if a team was going to get one, it would have to be earlier.  Pace would have eight picks left to address other needs.

This could potentially be the home run move that puts that offense and Cutler over the top.