Chicago Bears Possible Undrafted Target: WR Jalen Tolliver
By Erik Lambert
If the Chicago Bears are going to fill out this 2018 roster properly, it would be a huge help if they were able to land a quality undrafted free agent.
Such types have actually done well for them in recent years. Cameron Meredith, Bryce Callahan, and Christian Jones are just some of the examples. GM Ryan Pace has shown an ability to pinpoint quality talent that may have slipped through the draft cracks. Given how many open spots remain on this reshaping depth chart, odds are high the Bears will invest more heavily than usual on the undrafted market. So pinpointing certain names they could target might be important.
Pace has no qualms about targeting players from smaller schools, so it’s reasonable to think he has eyes on wide receiver Jalen Tolliver out of Arkansas-Monticello. As everybody knows the key with a player from a Division II, III, or FCS program is do they have interesting physical traits and did they dominate their competition?
Tolliver checks both of those boxes. He stands 6’3″ and a solid 210 lbs and was a problem for defenses this past year. He finished with 1,109 yards and 16 touchdowns. The year before he had 1,090 yards and 14 touchdowns. Consistent excellence.
Jalen Tolliver would provide quality depth against injury risk big names
One thing about Pace that has become apparent is he covets receivers with size who can run sharp routes. It’s true of Meredith and now with Allen Robinson too. Kevin White has shown promise in the all-too-brief instances he’s played. The problem with those three men is they also bring shaky health histories. Adding another big body who can run like Tolliver provides value insurance.
He’s not blazing fast but he shows consistent ability to track the deep ball and can outfight the defender in 50/50 situations. He also doesn’t fear going over the middle. Most of his concerns are typical of small school receivers like him. He doesn’t yet know how to run a complex route tree. He’s been living off his pure size and athletic abilities to this point.
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That doesn’t sound like something that will deter Matt Nagy, Mark Helfrich and the rest of the Bears’ new offensive coaching staff. Tolliver offers qualities that could lend a big hand to what they’re trying to do. Mitch Trubisky likes big targets who he can throw it up to down the field. It was true at North Carolina and even last year. Dontrelle Inman (6’3″) averaged a healthy 14.5 yards per catch in his eight games on the roster.
Tolliver can be that sort of target for him, and maybe more if he learns how to maximize his gifts with proper technique.