Courtland Sutton to meet with Bears over weekend

The Bears are to set check off another box for the 2018 Draft, as they will meet with the big-bodied Courtland Sutton out of SMU this weekend, reports NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Sutton, 22, was one of college football’s most productive receivers the last three seasons. He became a legitimately dominant force in SMU’s offense as he caught 193 passes and 31 touchdowns in three years. Opposing defenses had no answer for the 6-foot-3, 218 pound freak: a good sign of production moving along to the professional level.

For the Bears’ sake, it’s highly unlikely they draft a receiver at No. 8 overall after signing former Jaguar Allen Robinson in free agency to be their No. 1 target. But Sutton, who is currently being projected as a late first to early second rounder, could be a target on Day 2 depending on how this year’s draft shakes out. That’s especially the case if the Bears don’t match the New Orleans’ Saints offer sheet for restricted free agent Cameron Meredith. Then Chicago would almost certainly seek a new No. 2 option opposite Robinson.

At any rate, the Bears can parse out more about Sutton’s fit when they have their private time with him in the coming days. The Eagles and other teams such as the Patriots will receive their workouts with the top receiver first, and that’s just due process. As far as prospect meetings go, this underrated designation with Sutton could be crucial for the Bears to maximize.

Robert Zeglinski is the Bears beat writer for The Rock River Times, an editor for Windy City Gridiron and Inside The Pylon, and is a contributor to Pro Football Weekly and The Athletic Chicago. You can follow him on Twitter @RobertZeglinski.