{"id":551881,"date":"2026-03-29T06:55:08","date_gmt":"2026-03-29T06:55:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/551881\/"},"modified":"2026-03-29T06:55:08","modified_gmt":"2026-03-29T06:55:08","slug":"insider-hints-a-high-bears-wr-draft-pick-is-coming-who-to-watch-and-why","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/551881\/","title":{"rendered":"Insider Hints A High Bears WR Draft Pick Is Coming \u2014 Who To Watch And Why"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Chicago Bears<\/a> taught us a lesson last year. Stop looking at positional need as the driving force of what they do in the draft. Not a single person had tight end even in the top three of positional needs going into the 2025 draft. That didn\u2019t stop Bears general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson from taking Colston Loveland 10th overall. Yet even now, lots of people are looking at the team\u2019s 25th overall pick through the lens of what their biggest needs are. Growing evidence suggests that it is a mistake.<\/p>\n

Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune has dropped hints for weeks that the organization is operating with a different perspective than fans and media. The Bears understand they still have needs at several positions, but they can\u2019t focus solely on filling them. They must stay true to their board. All options must remain open. That is why wide receiver is considerably higher on the list that people are talking about. Biggs seems confident that Chicago will grab one even as early as the 1st round.<\/p>\n

The Bears have four picks in the first two days of the draft: Round 1 (No. 25), Round 2 (57), Round 2 (60) and Round 3 (89). We can call those their early selections.<\/p>\n

My hunch is they would draft a receiver before a running back. I say that because teams can do well with running backs selected on Day 3, and the Bears certainly did with Kyle Monangai last year.<\/p>\n

Here are some positions to keep in mind when wondering about the picks in Rounds 1-3: edge rusher, safety, center, wide receiver, defensive tackle, cornerback, linebacker.<\/p>\n

The Chicago Bears have good reasons for this.<\/p>\n

For one, their wide receiving corps took a hit this offseason. D.J. Moore, their biggest playmaker over the past three years, was traded to Buffalo due to salary cap problems. Olamide Zaccheaus also left in free agency for Atlanta. Last but not least, kick returner Devin Duvernay departed for Arizona. While the Bears still have Rome Odunze and Luther Burden, the overall depth of the position took a considerable hit over the past month. That is, even with the arrival of veteran Kalif Raymond to fill some of the void.<\/p>\n

Player\u00a0New TeamTransactionRecYdsTDAvgNotesDJ MooreBuffalo BillsTraded50682613.6Also had 79 rushing yards and 1 TD.Olamide ZaccheausAtlanta FalconsFree Agency3931328.0Primary slot option for much of the season.Devin DuvernayArizona CardinalsFree Agency226013.0Served as a core returner with 1,300 total return yards.<\/p>\n

Then you have the uncertainty at the top. Odunze and Burden are unquestionably talented and have flashed brilliance. The problem is that both have some concerns. Odunze missed much of last season with a lingering foot injury. Burden still suffers from consistency issues that require work to smooth out. After that, you have Jahdae Walker, a former undrafted free agent who had some nice plays as a rookie but is still a work-in-progress. It\u2019s not hard to see why the Bears would prefer adding some insurance to the mix. Here are some names almost certain to be high on their board.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udd25 Subscribe to the Untold Chicago YouTube channel<\/a> to hear Chicago legends tell stories you\u2019ve never seen in headlines \u2014 real moments, real experiences, straight from the athletes themselves.<\/p>\n

Makai Lemon (USC)<\/p>\n

When Amon-Ra St. Brown is dropped as a pro comparison, you immediately know Ben Johnson sits up in his chair. After all, Colston Loveland was compared to Sam LaPorta. Lemon isn\u2019t a speed demon, but he doesn\u2019t need to be. He\u2019s a sharp route-runner who creates space for himself quite often. Yet even when he doesn\u2019t, he has the toughness and strong hands to make catches in tight coverage. His footwork is surprisingly advanced for someone his age, and he doesn\u2019t ignore his duties as a run-blocker. Posting 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns last season despite middling quarterback play only helps his case.<\/p>\n

Germie Bernard (Alabama)<\/p>\n

For all the hype Ryan Williams has gotten down in Tuscaloosa since his breakout freshman season, it wasn\u2019t him who Ty Simpson looked for in key situations most of last season. That was Bernard. It isn\u2019t hard to see why. At first, you don\u2019t get overwhelmed by the receiver. He\u2019s 6\u20191\u2033, 206 lbs, and has good-not-great speed. What separates him from others in this class is his route-running. He has that critical mix of great acceleration, sudden quickness, and the agility to rapidly change directions. Another big selling point is his YAC ability, making him a more versatile weapon for creative offensive minds.<\/p>\n

Omar Cooper Jr. (6\u20190 201) Indiana<\/p>\n

+ Shifty with the ball in his hands with excellent contact balance
+ 2.55 yards per route ran in 2025
+ 4.2% drop rate in 2025
+ 54.3% career contested catch rate
+ Ball security with 0 career fumbles
+ 20 receiving touchdowns combined in the\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/zHjyIgLMVP<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Bengals & Brews (@BengalsBrews) February 24, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n

Omar Cooper Jr. (Indiana)<\/p>\n

Plenty of players contributed to the Hoosiers\u2019 national championship run, and Cooper was among the biggest. He is one of those guys where you must get the ball in his hands as often as possible just to see what he does. He has Deebo Samuel skills, mixing the smooth route-running with a rugged, physical style of play. He welcomes contact, can fight through it, and has a keen nose for the end zone. The big issue the Chicago Bears will have to determine is whether he can improve his efforts in run-blocking. That has been a considerable sticking point for several draft evaluators.<\/p>\n

Malachi Fields (Notre Dame)<\/p>\n

Conversely, Fields might be the best run-blocker in the entire draft. He\u2019s big, strong, and aims to physically dominate on every rep. Yet that isn\u2019t the only selling point. Fields is your quintessential big wide receiver. He understands how to use his size to his advantage, constantly boxing out defenders for tough catches in traffic. His large wingspan allows him to go up and get the ball. He\u2019s somebody who thrives on third down and in the red zone. Teams will knock him for his lack of speed. That isn\u2019t his game. For what the Chicago Bears\u2019 offense likes to do, he would be a great fit.<\/p>\n

De\u2019Zhaun Stribling (Ole Miss)<\/p>\n

The fact that they already met with him should tell you they\u2019re interested. Stribling is one of those receivers who does everything well. He\u2019s a good route-runner, has legitimate vertical speed, plays his best in big games, and is a competitive blocker. The downside with him is how often he comes up short in contested-catch situations. He has the size to win his share of battles, but doesn\u2019t do so often enough. Drafting him will depend on how much the Bears think they can help with that, or if they\u2019re willing to live with it. There is plenty he can do for an offense. He is an easy player to like on tape.<\/p>\n