Chicago Bears 2017 mock draft: Post NFL Combine and free agency

Cooper Kupp, WR, Eastern Washington (6-foot-2, 204 pounds)

The wide receiver spot was a sore spot for the Chicago Bears in 2016. There were a lot of dropped passes among the unit, and some route-running left a lot to be desired.

With the Bears going with Glennon now, they need to give him a good receiving corps. The loss of Alshon Jeffery is a blow, but the front office worked quickly to replace him. Pace signed Kendall Wright and Markus Wheaton for a price lower than it would have to re-sign Jeffery.

Kupp gives the Bears offense a dependable receiver who moves the chains. He broke FCS records in receptions (428), yards (6,464), and touchdowns (73). The Bears added speed to stretch the defense, now they can get a receiver who can kill the defense with underneath stuff.

Kupp is another player who used the offseason to improve his stock. He practiced well during the week of the Senior Bowl and turned that into a good game. The Bears’ coaching staff got a good look at him, as they coached the North team Kupp played on. That gave them a good insight on what type of player he was even before going to the Combine.

At the Combine Kupp continued to impress. He went through all the drills and did well, showing how natural a pass-catcher he is. He doesn’t use his body like many receivers do. What he does is snatch the ball out of the air, using his strong hands, then using his body to protect the ball.

Adding Kupp to the Bears’ offensive mix would give them a pretty good unit. They would have a better mix of speed to open up the field and dependable hands to keep the chains moving. It would also bring some excitement to Soldier Field, a place devoid of such excitement for awhile.