Chicago Bears: 10 viable draft prospects to watch at the combine
By Ryan Heckman
WR Calvin Ridley, Alabama
It is unlikely the Bears will end up with Calvin Ridley at number eight overall. If Pace decided to pull the trigger on him that high, it would be foolish.
Plenty of mock drafts have given Ridley to the Bears at their current pick, and it’s simply the lazy way out. The Bears are arguably the most receiver-needy team in the league, but that doesn’t mean you give them the top overall graded wideout at number eight.
Ridley may be the top graded receiver, but if the Bears were to snag him, it would be later in the first round after trading back. Maybe a team like the Bills would be an ideal partner if the Bears think Ridley would last that long.
While he doesn’t have the biggest size overall, Ridley is very good off the line and an excellent route runner. A lot of people believe he would be the perfect compliment to a true number one option — thus the fact that it is widely believed he won’t pan out as a true primary threat.
Calvin Ridley's route running is a thing of beauty. Look how he finds the soft spot in the defense. Not only does he get open, but when he catches the ball in space, you can consider yourself screwed. pic.twitter.com/Hn3jD6613d
— Chris (@ChrisNano10) January 11, 2018
Ridley is athletic and has the ability to beat double teams while going up for a jump ball. He has good but not elite speed. Ridley is a fantastic blocker and he has shown that he can be durable — that should come as music to the ears of Bears fans.
His combine will do a lot of influencing into where he goes in the first round. If he goes above and beyond expectations, maybe he does find himself in the top 12. However, if his performance doesn’t blow the scouts away, he is likely suited in the middle of the first round.