Chicago Bears sign second round tight end Adam Shaheen to four-year contract
On Friday, the Chicago Bears signed second-round rookie tight end Adam Shaheen to a four-year contract.
The Chicago Bears trading up one spot to select quarterback Mitch Trubisky with the second overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft sent shockwaves through the league. None of us still have any idea whether Ryan Pace was fooled by San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch or vise versa. The Trubisky selection was certainly the most important pick for the Bears in the 2017 draft but it was not my personal favorite.
The Bears trading down in the second round to take Ashland tight end Adam Shaheen was my favorite pick. And on Friday, the Bears locked their big tight end up, signing Shaheen to a four-year rookie contract.
Despite coming from the Division II level, Shaheen has a ton of natural ability that could make him a real difference-maker in the NFL. At 6-foot-6, 278 pounds, Shaheen is a big and powerful man who has sneaky speed and athleticism.
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An accomplished basketball player, Shaheen’s athleticism from the court immediately stands out on the field. He is an absolute weapon when the ball is in the air and an extremely productive run after catch receiver.
A big, powerful, fast and athletic tight end who can dominate as a receiver, it is easy to compare Shaheen to New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski. In fact, Shaheen has been tabbed with the nickname “Baby Gronk.”
While his natural upside and ability are impressive, there are still questions about Shaheen’s game. Even though he is a massive tight end, his run blocking skills leave plenty to be desired. Shaheen appears to have the raw skills to be a strong run blocker but his technique is awful.
Most notably, the jump from Division II to the NFL is a massive one. Shaheen was absolutely dominant against lower-level college competition but will that translate against the best football players in the world? Personally, I like his chances but he is far from a sure thing.
Next: Predicting Bears' offensive depth chart for 2017
Trubisky is now the single most important player on the Chicago Bears roster. When it comes down to it, theBears need Trubisky to become a big-time franchise quarterback or the entire team is in trouble. That being said, the progression of Shaheen into a legitimate offensive weapon is also extremely important.
It will be interesting to see how the Bears use their exciting new tight end in 2017 and beyond.