Chicago Bears Camp Preview: Wide receivers

1. Roster Locks

Currently, the Bears are expected to carry 12 wide receivers as they begin training camp. Of these 12, the five players that are guaranteed roster spots are Allen Robinson, Taylor Gabriel, Anthony Miller, Cordarrelle Patterson, and Riley Ridley. We’ll examine why each of these players is guaranteed a roster spot.

Allen Robinson

In the 2018 offseason, the Bears paid big money to haul in Robinson with the hopes that he would become a true number one wide receiver for Mitchell Trubisky. From weeks 13 to 16 in 2018, Robinson totaled 19 receptions for 260 yards averaging 13.6 yards per reception. Heading into 2019, he will be the Bears best wide receiver and will look to regain his Pro Bowl form.

Taylor Gabriel

Another free agent signed during the 2018 offseason, Gabriel brings speed to the Bears offense. Often times in 2018, he was lined up in the slot and will continue to do so heading into 2019. With a career-high 67 receptions in 2018, it’s clear that Gabriel is viewed as an essential part of the Bears offense. While his role could change in 2019 due to the emergence of other players, Gabriel is likely still a starter heading into week one of the 2019 season

Anthony Miller

After leading the Bears in receiving touchdowns in 2018 with seven, Miller is going to be the most interesting wide receiver to watch in 2019. He played all of 2018 with a shoulder injury and still proved to be one of the better receivers on the Bears. What makes Miller so dangerous is his ability to pick up yards after the catch.

Cordarrelle Patterson

Matt Nagy loves speed and that’s exactly what Patterson brings to the table. After signing a two-year deal worth $10 million dollars in free agency, Patterson will be placed all over the field for the Bears. In addition to just being a player that brings more speed to the offense, Patterson will also end up being someone that has a major impact on special teams bringing added value as a return specialist. As the Bears continue to build a lethal offense, Patterson is someone that will look to have a major impact immediately.

Riley Ridley

An excellent route runner that has a bright future with the Bears, Ridley is the latest example of mid-round draft steals that General Manager Ryan Pace is able to find. In college, Ridley mastered the curl route, but still showed the ability to run a more expansive route tree. He’ll enter training camp as the fourth wide receiver on the depth chart but expect him to quickly become a regular part of the Bears offense as the season progresses.