With the Chicago Bears having no glaring needs on their roster, general manager Ryan Pace was able to go with the best-available player still on the board when he selected Georgia receiver Riley Ridley with the 126th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
The Bears didn’t have any real need for receiver, but Pace couldn’t pass up Ridley sitting there on the board late in the fourth round.
In his four years with the Bears, Pace has drafted seven players in the fourth round, most of which have been solid contributors for the Bears in some capacity.
Pace’s reputation for success in the later rounds of the draft speaks for itself. He struck gold in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft with safety Eddie Jackson and running back Tarik Cohen, both first-team All Pro selections in 2018.
So has Pace found his next fourth-round gem in Ridley?
Many pegged Ridley, the younger brother of Atlanta’s Calvin Ridley, as the best route runner in the draft. While he isn’t as dynamic as his brother, he’s a detailed route runner that should challenge defensive backs when it comes to contested catches and with his speed down the field.
In three years at Georgia, Ridley caught 69 passes for 1,015 yards and 13 touchdowns. He had a career-best season last year catching 43 passes for 559 yards and nine touchdowns.
Riley joins a receivers room loaded with explosive talent in Allen Robinson, Anthony Miller, Taylor Gabriel, Cordarelle Patterson and former Bulldog teammate Javon Wims. The Bears offense was ranked No. 21 in the league last season. But with the talent the Bears have headed into their second season in Matt Nagy’s offense, there’s an anticipated leap for this offense in 2019.
The Bears offense is shaping up to be a group loaded with talent. Chicago is forming a nice group of young talent in Miller, Wims and Ridley to complement veterans Robinson and Gabriel. Add in tight end Trey Burton and three receiving threats at running back in Tarik Cohen, Mike Davis and third-round selection David Montgomery, and Pace is putting plenty of weapons around quarterback Mitch Trubisky.
