Chicago Bears: 5 small school prospects to consider in 2018 NFL Draft

Wide Receiver Jake Wieneke, South Dakota State

Due to already addressing the wide receiver position in a big way during free agency, the Bears will not likely draft one early — or maybe not even at all. Jake Wieneke out of South Dakota State would be a guy to look out for, though, if Pace decides to look at one later in the draft.

Coming out of high school, the biggest offer Wieneke had was where he wound up — SDSU. As his competition would find out, Wieneke played bigger than his school. At 6’4″ 213 pounds, Wieneke is a large target and has good ability to track deeper throws — something not always found in college prospects.

Already having guys like Allen Robinson and Taylor Gabriel who are locked in as players who will receive hefty time on the field, the Bears may also keep Cameron Meredith who is currently a restricted free agent. The other guys, Kevin White and Joshua Bellamy, aren’t exactly household names.

White has failed to stay healthy and Bellamy is more valuable on special teams than offense. If Pace wants to continue creating competition at a position that was a weakness not too long ago, Wieneke would be a great selection in a later round.

Chicago is not done adding to their receiving core just yet, as I can guarantee you Pace wants there to be stiff competition for the final roster spot or two come training camp. If someone with the physical, towering stature like Wieneke were to get his shot at an NFL roster, I’m sure it would push the guys lower on the depth chart to work that much harder.

Wieneke could be a legitimate wide receiver two if given the chance to develop and placed in the right system. Is that system under Matt Nagy? We’ll see.