Chicago Bears: Comparing Anthony Miller’s 2018 outlook with fellow rookies
By Ryan Heckman
Christian Kirk, Arizona Cardinals
Prior to the draft, I know many Bears fans (myself included) loved the idea of Christian Kirk coming to Chicago. Just watching his tape from Texas A&M, you knew he was versatile. Picturing him within Nagy’s offense, you could see them being quite creative with Kirk.
Going to the Arizona Cardinals, though, might have been a bit of a disappointment for him — at least, for now. Larry Fitzgerald is still there, and he plays mainly in the slot now at his older age. Kirk, meanwhile, is a slot receiver.
He also did a lot of his damage on special teams. Kirk was as versatile as they come in terms of a college wideout last year, but I worry that he might be more of a jack-of-all-trades type of guy than a true wideout in the Cardinals’ system right away.
With the quarterback position up in the air, not knowing how long Sam Bradford will stay healthy and whether or not rookie Josh Rosen is ready to go, Kirk won’t have the fluidity at that position in Year 1. Miller, on the other hand, knows exactly who his franchise quarterback is. And, once again, the chemistry is there.
With all of the question marks surrounding the Cardinals’ offense and Fitzgerald still manning the slot, I am not so sure Kirk will get the volume he could have gotten in other systems as a rookie.
So, is it Kirk or Miller in 2018? Who has a bigger year?