Chicago Bears: Late-round sleeper targets in the 2021 NFL Draft

After two years without a first-round selection, Chicago Bears fans have to be pretty excited that the team will finally be participating on Day-1 of the 2021 NFL Draft. They’re currently slated to pick 20th overall, although many believe Chicago could be a potential trade partner for any team looking to move down.

After the underwhelming offseason addition of Andy Dalton, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them make an aggressive move to land one of the top quarterback prospects in the 2021 NFL Draft class.

While that will certainly be the biggest topic of discussion for the Chicago Bears leading up to the festivities, it’s actually the later rounds that could end up being just as important for them.

Of the Bears’ eight total picks in the 2021 NFL Draft, five of them are set to be on Day-3. With this class being pretty deep at several positions of need for Chicago, they may be able to find some instant contributors with those selections. Here are five names I think would be good late-round sleeper targets for the Chicago Bears.

1. Austin Watkins, WR, UAB

With reports that the team is discussing trades for Anthony Miller, the Chicago Bears could look to take advantage of the deep receiver class in the 2021 NFL Draft. One name to keep an eye out for in the middle to later rounds is former UAB standout, Austin Watkins.

At 6-foot-1 and a solid 210 pounds, Watkins is a physical outside receiver prospect with good speed and strong, reliable hands. A true plug and tuck type of pass catcher, Watkins really excels in contested catch situations and pairs that above-the-rim ability with smooth route running and loose hips.

In his final 21 games with the Blazers, Watkins brought in 91 balls and averaged 17 yards per catch with nine touchdowns. He’s a big-play threat with a nuanced skill set that would be a steal on Day-3 of the 2021 NFL Draft.