How Emanuel Hall can make the Chicago Bears roster

How can undrafted free agent Emanuel Hall make the Chicago Bears final roster? We talk about the surprise UDFAs journey ahead.

Like just about everybody else, I sat shocked as 250-plus selections went by in the 2019 NFL Draft and not one of them was “Emanuel Hall, wide receiver, Missouri.”

Why was one of the fastest receivers in this year’s draft from an SEC school with 23.6 yards per catch over the past two seasons not picked at all?

This guy tested in the 98th percentile or better in explosive metrics. He ran a 4.39 in the 40-yard dash. He had 14 touchdowns among his 70 receptions over the past two seasons. What gives?

He’s also built well at 6-foot-2, 201 pounds and has a wingspan over 79 inches.

I was sitting there in rounds two and three thinking we could hear his name at any moment. Then the fourth round went by. Then the fifth…Then the sixth…Then the seventh…

At this point, I was mad for Emanuel Hall. What does a guy have to do?

So then I had to turn on the tape again, and I had to look at third party opinions to find out what exactly could be reasons for this guy not getting drafted at all.

When I watched Hall back again, it was clear his routes (besides the ‘9’) left something to be desired. Some of them are rounded off. Some are fast but easy to defend because they are telegraphed.

There are also some balls Hall should come down with that he doesn’t.

In essence, and this is not ‘news’ with Hall, he’s a one-trick-pony at this stage of his football career.

Give Hall a ‘9’ route or give him a deep comeback or a dig and he’s going to excel. Give him just about anything else, and you might as well look to another read in the progression.

Hall only came down with 70 balls in the last two seasons despite being the “#1” receiver at Missouri, but was out-caught and out-targeted by Johnathon Johnson (junior receiver) and Albert Okwuegbunam (sophomore tight end).

But nonetheless, Hall’s explosive metrics and athleticism combined with some of the big plays he made on tape make him one of the most tantalizing undrafted free agent players. How can he make the Chicago Bears, the team he was picked up by?

There are two primary ways he can make the roster aside from figuring out ways to excel on special teams.

1. Keep that chip on your shoulder

2. Be really good at your ‘trick’

If Hall is a one-trick pony, he needs to be the best deep ball receiver at Bears camp. The Bears have some really talented playmakers on offense. Chris Dougherty took us through their updated depth chart and roster outlook after the 2019 NFL Draft.

With Hall’s competition in Chicago at receiver, there’s no guarantee he makes the roster unless he stands out and earns Mitch Trubisky’s trust as a deep ball receiver, something he was for Drew Lock at Mizzou.

He can make the Bears’ roster if he proves his one trick is something the Chicago Bears cannot live without.