Chicago Bears: 4 Possible Mid-Round Wide Receiver Prospects in NFL Draft

Having acquired Brandon Marshall in trade with the Miami Dolphins, the Chicago Bears will be less inclined to address the wide receiver position in the first round. 

Despite acquiring a talent like Marshall as well as signing veterans Eric Weems and Devin Thomas, the Bears will still look to add to their wide receiving corps.

Initially expected to address the wide receiver position in either of the first two rounds, the Bears will likely not select a receiver until somewhere in the middle rounds.  Despite big names like Justin Blackmon and Michael Floyd being long gone, there are still plenty of good wide receivers that should be available in the later rounds.

Here are four possible mid-round wide receivers the Bears could look to add in this year's draft.

Brian Quick, Appalachian State

Despite being matched up against lesser talent at FCS level Appalachian State, Brian Quick is looked at as being one of the best mid-round prospects in this year's draft.

Measuring in at 6'4" and weighing 220 pounds, many teams will be salivating at Quick's big-target red-zone potential. 

Despite his production in his senior season (71 catches, 1,096 yards and 11 touchdowns), Quick will be looked at as a project by most NFL teams because of his poor route-running abilities; he was most productive based off of his talent outweighing his technique.  Quick does show great ability after the catch and is viewed as a highly productive blocker. 

Marvin McNutt, Iowa

After coming to the University of Iowa as a top-50 quarterback recruit, Marvin McNutt eventually made the move to wide receiver in 2009.  McNutt's junior season saw him finish with just over 800 yards receiving to go along with eight touchdowns, and he finished his senior campaign with over 1,300 yards receiving along with a school-record 12 touchdowns.

At 6'3", McNutt uses his strong upper body and long arms to beat out smaller defenders. McNutt is not afraid to catch the ball across the middle or in traffic and has been called by some as being a "fearless" receiver.

Where McNutt struggles is in his route running, not always making the most fluid of routes sometimes getting bumped off track.  Despite his struggles with route running, it has to be noted that his senior season was just his third full season playing the wide receiver position. 

He definitely has the room to grow as a receiver and if the Bears can find a way to take him in the third round, he could become the steal of the draft.

Nick Toon, Wisconsin

Despite being part of a run-first offense at Wisconsin, Nick Toon finished his senior season with nearly 1,000 yards on 64 catches to go along with 10 touchdowns.

A big frame (6'2", 215lbs.) and solid route-running ability should have placed Nick Toon near the first round, but because of not-so-impressive numbers his senior season and some past injury concerns, Toon looks to be taken somewhere in the third to fourth round.

Toon is known as being a physical receiver off the line of scrimmage; coupled with his ability to play both the slot and outside, he should have the flexibility that teams will be looking for.

If Toon can stay healthy in the NFL and continue to be the aggressive receiver that he was at Wisconsin, teams like the Bears could find themselves a solid NFL receiver who could play in this league for years to come.

A.J. Jenkins, Illinois

A highly recruited prospect out of high school, A.J. Jenkins was one of former Illinois head coach Ron Zook's best recruits. Despite average quarterback play at best throughout his career at Illinois, Jenkins was still able to put together a solid senior season, hauling in 84 catches for 1,196 yards and seven touchdowns.

Jenkins excels at finding a weak spot in coverage, making the catch and immediately turning upfield to gain more yards.  He is a crisp route-runner, and is very fluid in his cuts and in and out of his breaks. Jenkins posses average size at best (6'0", 190 lbs.) but could find himself being a very productive slot receiver in the NFL. 

Despite being projected more as a third of fourth receiver, Jenkins could blossom into a much more productive receiver at the next level when given a much better quarterback throwing him the football.