With less than a week to go until the NFL Draft kicks off from the bright lights of Las Vegas, reports have run rampant from the Chicago Bears’ voluntary minicamp about the offense’s struggles. Could the difficulties convince GM Ryan Poles to bring some receiving weapons to help second year QB Justin Fields? NFL.com draft analyst Chad Reuter seems to believe so in his 7-round mock draft that brings a big SEC weapon to the Bears at the 39th pick of the second round: Arkansas wide receiver Treylon Burks.
.@chad_reuter's seven-round mock draft, Round 2: Bears select WR Treylon Burks with first of two pickshttps://t.co/17DOr5Ol4j pic.twitter.com/3MfhlQ3iLt
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) April 22, 2022
Burks’ arrival in Chicago would all but insert him into a starting role in the offense, as his 6-foot-2, 225-pound frame would bring a much-needed physical threat to offensive coordinator Luke Getsy’s scheme. Here’s what NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein has to say about the talented Burks:
Big, smooth and natural, Burks possesses the versatility to operate from wherever you want and get to wherever you need no matter the competition. He’s a mismatch receiver combining size, strength and competitiveness similar to the Titans’ A.J. Brown, but his speed testing at the NFL Scouting Combine did not meet expectations. Arkansas benefitted by putting the ball in his hands from a variety of alignments and there is no reason to believe NFL play-callers won’t benefit from doing the same. The tape is extremely exciting with real NFL skills jumping off the screen, but his potential to become a high-volume, three-level target is a little more cloudy after a relatively disappointing showing at the combine.
On top of the glowing review that Zierlein has said about Burks, he likens him to “A.J. Brown (with more wiggle)”. Considering the leaps and bounds that Brown has made in Tennessee, it’s a very appealing comparison for a team that hasn’t done a ton to fix the wide receiver position this offseason.
Coming off his junior season with the Razorbacks, Burks compiled a 66-catch season, recording 1,104 yards and 11 touchdowns in 12 games. As Zierlein mentioned, the NFL Combine was rough for Burks as he ran a 4.55 40-yard dash which may have dashed his own hopes of going in the first round on Thursday night. If that ends up being the case, the Bears may luck out with getting one of the most talented receivers in the 2022 class.
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