Given the jarring lack of production from the Bears’ passing game in 2017, bringing in a creative, adaptable offensive mind like Matt Nagy was a sensible first step. Their struggles centered around a lack of creativity in their play calling and more importantly, a dearth of talent. Bringing along a rookie quarterback is a challenge. But there’s no doubt Mitch Trubisky was throwing to an inferior group of wide receivers.
When you isolate the production of the Bears’ wide receivers in 2017, the numbers are alarming. They were, by far, the least productive in the NFC, and were on pace with the worst groups in the league. How bad were they?
- Worst in the league with four touchdowns
- Worst in the league with 15 receptions of 20-plus yards
- Worst in the NFC with 1,685 receiving yards, which was the league’s second-worst total, ahead of the Bills’ 1,474
- Worst in the NFC with 133 receptions, which was the league’s third-worst total, ahead of the Bills’ 115 and Colts’ 125
Injuries played a part in this, a recurring theme since general manager Ryan Pace took over.
“We didn’t get the production we needed from that position,” Pace said. “There’s multiple factors involved with that, injuries being one, we need younger guys to step up and we need better from that position. We’re going to need to attack a lot of positions this offseason, but it would be accurate to say that that’s one of them and again I’m excited because we have the resources to do so in free agency or the draft.”
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This offseason, both Kevin White (fractured left scapula) and restricted free agent Cam Meredith (left knee ACL and MCL tear) are both recovering from injury, leaving Markus Wheaton as the sole healthy starter. Wheaton was paid $6 million last season, which worked out to $2 million per reception.
For context, Patrick Ricard, an undrafted rookie whom the Ravens converted from a defensive lineman to a fullback, finished the season with four catches and two touchdowns.
Pace has a new profile of receiver needed for Nagy’s offense. Given the number of quick screens and “now” routes, the receivers need more suddenness. Given the number of route conversions, they need football intelligence to understand coverages. They also need to be tough and willing to work over the middle of the field. And of course, they need to actually be on the field.
Chiefs free agent wide receiver Albert Wilson could be an ideal target for the Bears given his familiarity with Nagy’s scheme. He was given nothing and earned everything on his path to the NFL. For an undrafted free agent out of Georgia State, his development over the past four years has earned him more playing time and should pay off in free agency.
Wilson will never be a number one option. Rather he’ll be a reliable slot and flanker who can contribute on special teams as a returner. Per Pro Football Focus (PFF) premium stats, 58 percent of his routes were run from the slot (19 receptions, 296 yards and one touchdown), and 42 percent were run outside (23 receptions, 258 yards and two touchdowns).
At 5-foot-9, 203 pounds with a 4.4 40-yard dash time, Wilson is a powerful runner with a quick burst. Those traits serve him well on quick screens and now routes to work through initial traffic and get north and south. His best pro performance came in Week 17 against the Broncos, which was also the NFL debut of Chiefs rookie quarterback Patrick Mahomes. In just 28 offensive snaps, Wilson set career highs for targets (11), receptions (10), yards (147) and first downs (seven).
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In that game, Wilson demonstrated toughness and quickness. Early on in his career, he didn’t fight for extra yardage, making several “business decisions” on the field. Against the Broncos, he worked in between the hashes and up the seams amid multiple defenders. His willingness to extend for this catch with a defender closing in his face showed toughness and concentration in traffic.
Wilson also demonstrated an ability to feel coverage and adjust his route accordingly. While still working vertically on this route, he reads the single-high safety, indicating that the middle of the field is closed, thus he must convert his route. With a defender trailing underneath he breaks leverage by adjusting outside, creating a window for Mahomes.
On this designed “now” or “smoke” route, Wilson takes an easy, high-percentage throw and turns it into a 19-yard gain. He showcased patience to read and allow his blocks to set up, then had enough explosiveness to get north and south through the alley, splitting three defenders in the process.
When I dug deeper into his tape, Wilson’s growth as a receiver is evident. His size makes him best suited for operating inside. But he can get outside via scheme and switched releases. I marked this sideline catch against the Raiders as a “wow” play. He tracked a deep ball over his shoulder with a defender in his face, timed his jump to high-point the ball, then had the balance and body control to keep both feet in bounds.
Wilson’s willingness to block in the run game is another boon. He cleared a path for Kareem Hunt’s touchdown against the Chargers. After losing ground on his initial punch, he re-sets his feet, anchors and then drives his defender into the end zone. How he finished this block was fun to watch.
I guarantee this clip from a 2016 game against the Broncos was watched and celebrated multiple times in film study. The Chiefs ran a read-option play out of the wildcat. Wilson initially tried to sell the route to widen the cornerback and create a running lane. But when Aqib Talib read the run, he doubled back to get in position to throw a crack block that ended up being a de-cleater.
Much focus will be put on Jarvis Landry this offseason, but Wilson may be a better target for Pace. His familiarity with Nagy’s scheme is a plus. Not only are the players learning the concepts and terminology, but coaches are as well. That’s an important point to note. Having a player in the room who has been brought up through that scheme is invaluable. Not to mention he’ll be available at a fraction of the cost.
It’s no secret the Bears have to drastically improve the talent level at wide receiver. It would make a lot of sense for them to make a strong, early push for Wilson to secure an ascending player ready for an expanded role.
(Top photo: Jay Biggerstaff/USA TODAY Sports)