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2018 NFL mock draft: Saquon Barkley heads to Giants

By Brad Weiss

GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 30: Running back Saquon Barkley #26 of the Penn State Nittany Lions runs the football 92 yards to score a touchdown against the Washington Huskies during the first half of the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 30, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 30: Running back Saquon Barkley #26 of the Penn State Nittany Lions runs the football 92 yards to score a touchdown against the Washington Huskies during the first half of the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 30, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LA – JANUARY 01: Calvin Ridley #3 of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrates a reception for a touchdown in the first quarter of the AllState Sugar Bowl against the Clemson Tigers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 1, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

player. 57. . Wide Receiver. Alabama. Calvin Ridley. 8

The Chicago Bears traded up one spot to draft Mitchell Trubisky at No. 2 overall in 2017, and the hope was he could sit a year and learn. Prior to drafting Trubisky, the team spent free agent money on Mike Glennon, and he was expected to allow the team to bring Trubisky along slowly. However, Glennon was one of the worst quarterbacks in the league, and Trubisky was thrown into the fire earlier than what was hoped for.

Not only was Trubisky asked to do too much during his rookie season, but he had no weapons to throw to. Kevin White and Cameron Meredith were lost for the season early, and tight end Zach Miller saw his season end to a knee injury in the middle of the campaign. That led to the team relying heavily on running back Jordan Howard, who put in another solid campaign in his sophomore season.

With the eighth overall pick in April, the Bears need to bring in a weapon for Trubisky to throw to in the passing game. Calvin Ridley from Alabama proved himself to be the best wide receiver in college football during his time with the Crimson Tide, and is an absolute playmaker. Having him on the outside will certainly help Trubisky, who showed flashes of brilliance during his rookie year, and has a quarterback-friendly head coach in Matt Nagy this season.

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