After Bears general manager Ryan Pace made his second-round selection in the NFL draft Friday night, he surprised by trading back into the second round to pick Memphis wide receiver Anthony Miller.
The Bears traded a 2019 second-round pick and one of their fourth-round picks this year, No. 105 overall, for the Patriots' second-round pick, the 51st overall selection.
Mel Kiper Jr. called Miller the most underrated offensive player in this draft.
"I love his production, love his chip on his shoulder because he was a former walk-on," Kiper said. "He's got everything you (want): route running, he'll block, he tracks the deep ball very effectively."
The Bears added wide receivers Allen Robinson and Taylor Gabriel in free agency this year. They also have Kevin White returning. But with Cameron Meredith's departure to the Saints earlier this month, they had a need for another receiving threat.
Miller had 238 catches for 3,590 yards and 37 touchdowns over three seasons at Memphis.
It is the third straight year Pace has made a trade in the second round. He previously selected Iowa center James Daniels with the No. 39 overall pick.
"You've seen the last couple of years our ability to maybe move around in the second round," Pace said Thursday. "If need be we could do that, or if there's a player that we love, shoot, we could go up tomorrow. We'll see."
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