Chicago Bears: Ranking the top 10 potential wide receiver targets
By Ryan Heckman
I don’t care what your opinion is of Martavis Bryant. The fact of the matter is, he can flat out play the wide receiver position better than the majority of guys in the NFL.
Why doesn’t it necessarily show up on the stat sheet? Just ask his teammates with the Pittsburgh Steelers at the moment.
Bryant has gotten himself into trouble off the field on several occasions, most notably being suspended for the entire 2016 season due to multiple failed drug tests. Last year, after being reinstated, he was seen on social media ripping his teammate, JuJu Smith-Schuster — most likely out of jealousy.
It is true, Smith-Schuster grabbed Steelers fans by the hearts last year and never let go. But, that’s beside the point.
Bryant simply hasn’t been happy as a Steeler. Whether it’s playing in the shadow of Antonio Brown or now having to share targets with yet another guy, it is clear that he will not likely be a Steeler for much longer.
Report: Steelers listening to trade options for WR Martavis Bryant. https://t.co/Odu2fxKeaO pic.twitter.com/BTgUpsrQae
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) February 23, 2018
While the Steelers brass has remained steady that they will not trade Bryant, it is getting harder and harder to believe. In fact, I would be shocked if he wasn’t dealt before the start of next season.
Just in case Bears fans immediately reject the idea of Bryant coming to the windy city, let me remind you a couple of things.
He is 26 years old. He is 6’4″. He ran an unofficial 4.34 40-yard dash at the combine — the official time was 4.42. Also, he can do this.
Martavis Bryant with the catch of the year! https://t.co/ZB6wWnpctz
— Steel City Underground (@steelcityundrgr) June 18, 2016
Typically, I am not one to go after guys with character issues. But, there is just something about Bryant that I cannot get over — oh yeah, now I remember. It’s his ridiculous ability to play the wide receiver position.
Pace needs to make moves. He knows he’s on year four with plenty of people looking over his shoulder. Risks are part of the equation on the road to be a successful general manager — just ask Robert Kraft.
If Pace is serious about improving the offense and aggressively changing the look of their wide receivers, a call to the Steelers must be made and it has to be made soon.