Kevin White to the Chicago Bears: Full Draft-Pick Breakdown
Published by Ross Read on April 30, 2015
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
It’s rare you can draft the best player available and fill a need, but the Chicago Bears were able to do both by selecting Kevin White.
When Chicago shipped off Brandon Marshall to the New York Jets, it opened up a gaping hole at receiver. Alshon Jeffery needs help on the outside, and White is certainly an explosive weapon who can provide assistance.
At 6’3”, 215 pounds, White has the prototypical size you want out of a No. 1 receiver. He ran a 4.35-second 40-yard dash at the combine and showed off his strength with 23 reps on the bench press.
White is a hard worker who has seen his skill set get better as his confidence increases. He transferred in 2013 to West Virginia from junior college and struggled with drops. He corrected those issues in 2014 and had a monster year.
His 109 receptions and 1,447 yards were third and sixth, respectively, in the nation last year. He holds the school record for receptions in a game with 16 against Texas and started the year with seven straight 100-yard games, another school record.
White got better when West Virginia decided to give him more routes. He started his career as strictly a deep guy but proved he can be an all-around receiver. He is still at his best when he’s able to use his size and high-point the football into his hands.
The offensive plan for White in Chicago is easy. Offensive coordinator Adam Gase had Pro Bowl wide receiver Demaryius Thomas in Denver. Gase lined him all over the field and made it a point to get the ball into his hands, so he could make plays with his speed and size.
In comparison to Thomas, White is faster. As he develops in the NFL, he will likely add about 10 pounds to his frame, which will help him fight through NFL tacklers.
The pick makes Jeffery better as well. Having another young explosive receiver on the other side of the field not only takes pressure off him to make nearly every play but also allows him to do more of what he does best, which is stretch the field.
When you add free-agent pickup Eddie Royal into the slot, the Bears now feature an exciting receiving corps that can take it to the end zone at any point in the game from any point on the field. Quarterback Jay Cutler has options when he drops back to pass.
Where White needs to improve is getting off the line of scrimmage. That will happen as he gets stronger and learns the nuances and tricks of what makes a great NFL wide receiver.
White has rare talent that he’s just now coming into. As he develops and gains more confidence, he will only get better. He has the upside to be the most explosive player to come out of this draft class.
The Bears hit a home run with this pick.
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