Danny Gray Joins Bears Stockpile Of Speedy WR Visits
If people haven’t caught onto the trend yet, it’s clear the Chicago Bears are following through on what GM Ryan Poles said back in January. They want more speed in the passing game. To that end, they’ve been meeting with multiple receiver prospects over the past week, all of them checking that key box. Tyquan Thornton of Baylor was first. Then Jalen Nailor of Michigan State. Now Danny Gray of Southern Methodist joined the fun.
He posted on his Instagram account that he was visiting Halas Hall. Upon further research, it isn’t hard to see why. Lance Zierlein of NFL.com compared Gray to current receiver Demarcus Robinson. He is the same receiver Poles helped draft during his time with the Kansas City Chiefs. So the interest makes even more sense now.
Gray is an intriguing player.
He didn’t play for SMU until his junior season, collecting 448 yards and four touchdowns. Then as a senior, he took a big step forward with 803 yards and nine touchdowns in just ten games. This was soon followed by a standout showing at the scouting combine, where he ran a blistering 4.33 in the 40-yard dash. With the 16.4 yards per catch he averaged in 2021, it is fair to say the speed is real.
Danny Gray winning deep again. Solid player pic.twitter.com/wQuLPntU3G
— Billy M (@BillyM_91) February 2, 2022
The NFL is looking for explosive playmakers and @SMU_Football WR Danny Gray is getting scouts’ attention with plays like this. @DGray_5 has that extra gear to bust angles and score from anywhere on the field. ???? #TheDraftStartsInMOBILE™️#BestoftheBest https://t.co/XtL1XUxXg1 pic.twitter.com/IQ0QEFBinK
— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) September 27, 2021
Danny Gray activated INFINITE TURBOpic.twitter.com/M5JHizhKWk
— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) September 19, 2020
There is a lot to like about Danny Gray. He certainly comes from a program known for producing quality wide receivers. Emmanuel Sanders and Courtland Sutton both came out of SMU. His speed is a great asset, but he also deserves more credit for his solid route-running skills. It isn’t perfect, but the building blocks are there for him to get better. His concerns center around lacking the strength to handle press coverage and a tendency to drop passes from time to time.
That and his modest production are likely why he’s expected to go somewhere on Day 3 of the draft. With no 1st rounders, the Bears know they have to do their best to make their later picks count. Gray could be worth the risk.