Chicago Bears: Tanner Gentry signing could be big in 2017
While the Chicago Bears did not take a wide receiver in the recent draft, their signing of Tanner Gentry could turn out to be a big one in 2017.
The Chicago Bears had a need at wide receiver going into the recent NFL Draft. General manager Ryan Pace and the front office decided against drafting any of the available receivers with their five picks. However, after the draft, the Bears did pick up someone who may help the offense this season.
After the draft, however, the Bears did pick up someone who may help the offense this season. They signed former Wyoming wide receiver Tanner Gentry. The 6-foot-1, 210-pound Gentry made the Second Team All-Mountain West after leading the conference with 1,326 receiving yards, tying for the conference lead with 14 touchdowns, and fourth in the conference with 72 catches.
Chris Burke of Sports Illustrated says that Gentry could be a sleeper on the Bears’ roster.
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"The Bears did not draft a receiver, and their depth chart at the position is a hodgepodge of options—Cameron Meredith, undrafted in 2015, actually led the team in receiving last year. There is opportunity, then, for Gentry, a 6′ 1″, 200-pounder with sticky hands. He produced 1,300-plus yards and 14 TDs last season."
Meredith is an undrafted rookie that Pace hit on. He had a very good season in 2016 and some project him to be the top target for quarterback Mike Glennon this season.
The wide receiver corps could be a good one, but it’s on shaky ground. Kevin White, the first-round pick in that same 2015 class with Meredith, played in just four games in two seasons. Eddie Royal missed 14 games in his two seasons with the Bears. They picked up Markus Wheaton and Kendall Wright, but they have injury history as well. Wheaton is coming off a major injury that cost him 13 games last season while Wright only has one season in which he played every game.
Gentry has a chance to make an impact on the offense. Having Meredith there may help him. He knows what it’s like to be on the lowest rung of the ladder and work his way up.
Gentry is a big-play receiver. Of all his catches in 2016, 49 of them were deep targets (tops in the nation). He is a physical, athletic receiver who plays both the outside and the slot. He has a large catch radius so he makes difficult catches. That makes him an Alshon Jeffery-type of receiver.
Gentry lacks the speed to break away from defenders, but his ability to make difficult catches negates that, especially if he makes catches in the end zone. After last season’s debacle with dropped passes, having someone who actually catches the ball is a nice change.
Next: For the Bears, Ryan Pace is the one who has the power now
If Tanner Gentry makes the team and plays well, and if the drafted players also do well for the Chicago Bears, the feeling of this draft class may change.