Chicago Bears NFL Draft: Don’t ignore these late-round prospects

Wide Receiver Omar Bayless, Arkansas State

If you want a potential late-round steal, look no further than wideout Omar Bayless out of Arkansas State. This kid should be talked about a lot more than he currently is, and I’m going to convince you right now.

As a Bears fan, the thought of being able to place another strong wideout on the outside, opposite Allen Robinson, is a heck of a thought. I know a lot of the focus is on adding speed, but how about adding the complete package instead?

Bayless is 6-foot-1, weighing 212 pounds and, by the way, he’s a walking highlight reel.

His speed won’t blow you away (a disappointing 4.62 at the Combine) but the intangibles are there. His catch radius knows no bounds. Half of his tape is essentially nonstop circus grabs. He’s the king of one-handed receptions.

One of the bigger knocks on him, aside from lack of breakaway speed, is the fact that he only has one year of excellent production and it was within a less-talented conference. Still, Bayless caught 93 passes for 1,653 yards and 17 touchdowns last season.

Three of his touchdowns came on plays of over 70 yards, so there is enough belief that he is capable of pro-level speed. He just doesn’t showcase it regularly. Consistency is going to be key for him coming into the NFL.

Bayless is a monster, though, and wins a ton of one-on-one matchups when the ball is in the air. That’s important at the pro level — being able to win close matchups with physical corners. Bayless shows plenty of that on tape, and if he’s available in the sixth or seventh round, the Bears may have found their missing receiver.