Chicago Bears: Big Ten prospects to watch during 2020 season
By Usayd Koshul
7. WR Rashod Bateman, Minnesota
Another wide receiver that could interest the Bears, Rashod Bateman is perhaps the most complete wide receiver in the Big Ten. He features the ability to run an advanced route tree, while also having a major impact after the catch. Being able to stretch the defense is another strong quality of his and through his first two years in college, his production has been off the charts as well, tallying 111 receptions, 1923 receiving yards, 17 touchdowns while averaging 17.3 yards per reception.
Bateman features ideal size to play the wide receiver position in the NFL. Listed at 6-foot-1 and 210 pounds, he’ll likely line up as a ‘X’ receiver, who any quarterback can hit while in stride. This means that Bateman will likely figure out ways to get open in space before doing some real damage after he’s got the ball in his hands.
Right now, when looking at Bateman’s draft projection, it’s clear that with another strong season in 2021, he’ll be one of the handful of wide receivers selected in the first round. This means he could be a mid first-round pick. Hypothetically speaking, if he was selected by the Bears, he’d form one of the NFL’s best wide receiver corps with Allen Robinson and Darnell Mooney.