Cubs News: Getting to Know: Tyler Scott |
You can never have too many weapons on offense. If that is the case, Ryan Poles has taken it to heart, as he has done a great job addressing the offensive needs of his team. From investing in the trenches to giving
Justin Fields as many playmakers as possible, the Bear's offense has undergone a dramatic facelift and will look much different next season than before.
Not only will they look different, but they have taken a page out of the Kansas City Chiefs playbook by trying to invest in speedy players that can stretch the field. When you look at the Bears current WR room, most, if not all, of them run sub 4.48 40 times, with a few in the 4.3 range. That is blazing speed and something a lot of defenses won't be able to contend with this season. Chicago's fourth-round selection Tyler Scott falls into that trend as he is another speedy weapon that will be given to Fields to use this season. Taken 133rd overall in the draft, Scott may not be a day-one starter but will be given an opportunity to prove himself, as his speed is the ultimate X-factor to his game. The 5-11 185-pounder is smaller than you would like to see in a WR, but if you can use him in the slot position, he can make things happen. Across 30 games the past three seasons with the Cincinnati Bearcats, Scott has been reliable even if he wasn't the primary target. Scott brought in 87 receptions for 1439 yards and 14 touchdowns during his career. That culminated last season when Scott was named second-team American Athletic Conference after establishing career highs in all receiving categories with 54 receptions, 899 yards, and nine TDs. Timed at 4.39 during his pro-day, Scott has big play written all over him as he caught TD passes of 81 and 53 yards in 2021 and 41, 75, 61, and 76 yards in 2022. Considering what the Bears did in the passing game last season, this will be a pleasant addition that could prove valuable. When you watch Scott on film, you immediately notice the TY Hilton traits, which are why he has been compared to the former Colts WR. Hilton was never going to be an all-pro, but he was a consistent WR who would always put up big numbers. The fact that Scott fell to the Bears in the fifth round is remarkable when you consider that most had him pegged as a second or third-round pick. Scott is a similar player to Hilton, especially in body type, speed, and versatility. With just two seasons of starting experience at receiver, his route running and ball skills are almost certain to continue to improve and become less of an issue for him in the future. He has the speed and shiftiness to uncover all three levels. Scott is an ascending talent whose versatility and playmaking talent create an easily projectable upside as a good starting slot receiver early in his career. Also, he offers jet sweep and receiver screen value. A smallish frame and lack of hand strength will likely continue to plague him on contested catches. Anytime you draft players on day three, they become a hit or miss as to whether or not they even make the team. Scott is not your ordinary fifth-round pick and could be compared to Stefon Diggs when the Vikings drafted him. Diggs was also a fifth-round pick viewed as a second or third-rounder but fell to the fifth round due to injuries. Diggs turned himself into an All-Pro, so there is hope that Scott could follow a similar path. Scott is a former junior Olympic sprinter who has top-end speed. That speed paid off in the passing game as he hauled in 14 career scores of over 30 yards. As long as he can put the work in to become a better route runner, this is someone that Fields is going to fall in love with, as will the fans.
