Where does Dazz Newsome fit in the Chicago Bears’ WR puzzle?

You’d be hard-pressed to find a topic discussed more than the Chicago Bears wide receivers this offseason. General manager Ryan Poles’ decision to shop at the receiver thrift store in free agency and avoid pass-catchers in the second round of the NFL Draft sparked criticism that has no end date. His strategy is described in scandalous ways, Maybe he doesn’t believe in quarterback Justin Fields and isn’t ready to invest in him.

Poles has done his best to dismiss these baseless claims, but there’s little he can do to stop the tsunami of negativity until the players he’s acquired step on the field and prove their worth.

And it’s not like Poles hasn’t done anything at receiver. He signed Byron Pringle, Equanimeous St. Brown, Tajae Sharpe and Dante Pettis. Superstars? No. Talented players with upside? Sure.

Poles drafted Velus Jones Jr. in the third round. Was Jones a first-round talent who slid? No. Does he bring a resume of dominant production to the NFL? Also, no. But he’s a 4.3-guy with rare after-the-catch ability. There’s a reason he’s been compared to Deebo Samuel, even if that’s an aggressive suggestion.

Perhaps there’s another receiver who has a chance to emerge as a viable target for Fields in 2022 that Poles is counting on breaking out: last year’s sixth-round pick, Dazz Newsome.

Dazz Newsome is the forgotten WR on the Chicago Bears

Newsome entered the 2021 draft cycle as a desirable prospect. He drew comparisons to Russell Gage, who signed a three-year, $30 million deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this offseason. If Newsome evolves along Gage’s timeline? The Bears’ problem at wide receiver isn’t so big anymore.

Newsome has been lost in the receiver discussion because former coach Matt Nagy refused to play him last season. He appeared in just three games and had two catches for 25 yards. But his lack of production as a rookie doesn’t mean he can’t develop into a solid pro. The comparison to Gage is applicable here, too. Gage, like Newsome, was a sixth-round pick. His rookie season was limited to just six catches for 63 yards. Once his opportunities increased, production followed.

In a way, Newsome will begin the 2022 season like an unproven rookie. The difference — and where he’ll benefit — is that he has a redshirt year under his belt. He knows what it takes to be a pro, even if he didn’t get many chances to prove himself on the field during his first season.

Dazz Newsome enters 2022 season like an extra draft pick

Why not view Newsome like another rookie competing for reps in 2022? What if the Bears drafted a prospect with Newsome’s skill-set this year? The fan base would be excited about his potential, and the media would be talking about him as a sleeper with a chance to crack the lineup.

Check out these highlights from Newsome’s time at UNC. They’re proof that excitement is warranted:

It’s important to remain realistic. Perhaps, Newsome is only appealing right now because, well, who else is there? Aside from Jones, the Bears don’t have a young prospect at wide receiver who remains an unknown commodity. And sometimes, it’s that unknown that can create unrealistic expectations.

But Newsome was drafted for a reason. He’s a talented player who entered the league as a raw route-runner. He needed time to work on his craft, and, for better or worse, he got that time last season. With a wide-open depth chart, Newsome could become the surprise contributor to the Bears” offense in 2022.