Chicago Bears Camp Preview: Wide receivers

2. Players on the roster bubble

Since we’ve identified five players that are locks to make the Bears roster, the final wide receiver spot is going to be a battle between the following players: Tanner Gentry, Marvin Hall, Emanuel Hall, Thomas Ives, Jordan Williams-Lambert, Taquan Mizzell, and Javon Wims.

Tanner Gentry

After signing with the Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2017, Gentry seemed to show tons of promise as a slot receiver. However, his time with the Bears has consisted of being waived, signed to the practice squad, and then being promoted to the active roster. 2019 is going to be Gentry’s last chance to prove that he has what it takes to be a wide receiver on the Bears roster.

Emanuel Hall

Hall could end up being the Bears best undrafted free agent signing. He’s never going to be a featured part of an offense but he is the type of low-end wide receiver who brings attributes like speed to the field that will allow him to be a deep threat. Hall is one of the players on this list that could end up being a finalist for the Bears final wide receiver on the 53-man roster. However, if he fails to impress in training camp, then the team needs to sign him to the practice squad and keep him as a developmental piece for the future.

Marvin Hall

As the Bears continue their quest to find a kick returner, Hall is one name to keep an eye on. In 2018, while with the Atlanta Falcons, Hall averaged 23.7 yards per return. Beyond that, his impact has been limited. Does Hall’s limited impact mean that he’s a bust? No. He just needs an opportunity in training camp to prove himself. Even if the Bears don’t view Hall as someone that can contribute on offense, he may end up making the roster as a special teams player in the return game.

Thomas Ives

A Division Two wide receiver who grew up in Hinsdale, Illinois, the Bears clearly saw something special in Ives which is why they decided to sign him. At six-foot-five and 215 pounds, Ives clearly has the potential to be a red zone threat for the Bears. If the Bears are going to prioritize size over anything when evaluating the final wide receiver spot, then Ives is someone that should draw tons of consideration.

Jordan Williams-Lambert

A Canadian Football League star, Williams-Lambert spent some time on the New Orleans Saints practice squad between 2016 and 2017 before signing with the Bears this offseason. Williams-Lambert too can be a red zone target for the Bears, however, his lack of development may end up being a reason he doesn’t make the Bears roster. Additionally, he isn’t a guy the Bears would use a practice squad spot on which means that his NFL journey will likely end in training camp

Javon Wims

A year after showing so much promise, Wims is now on the outside looking in. After being active for just four games in 2018, Wims now faces an uphill battle to make the Bears roster. When he did play last season, he showed promise to the point where you could make an argument for him being the fourth or fifth wide receiver on the depth chart in 2019. The one advantage that Wims has over the rest of the players that are on the roster bubble is that he’s familiar with the Bears offense to the point where the Bears coaching staff can give him a few snaps a game.

Taquan Mizzell

A former running back who was with the Bears in 2018, the team decided to convert Mizzell to wide receiver this offseason. Whenever he did see the field in 2018, Mizzell showed some promise as a receiver, however, he rarely impressed to the point where he could be considered a guy who could be relied on in any situation. Now, it’s clear that the odds are clearly against Mizzell as he faces an uphill battle to make the Bears roster. If he didn’t make much of an impact as a running back, it’s unlikely that as a wide receiver, things will be any different.