NFL Draft Spotlight: Marcedes Lewis

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NFL Draft Spotlight: Marcedes Lewis

By Jason Gage

TalkBears.com

 

The Bears are expected to focus on four positions in the first two rounds on draft day: tight end, wide Receiver, outside linebacker, and defensive back. With the recent acquisition of Ricky Manning Jr., the most likely bet falls within the first three positions. Up until the draft, TalkBears.com will be releasing a new player profile daily of a top round pick the Bears are targeting.

 

This off-season GM Jerry Angelo and OC Ron Turner have made it evident that finding a tight end, who can stretch the field, will be a focal point during the first day of the draft. Despite a low 1st round pick (26th overall), the Bears will find themselves in an excellent position to grab a tight end in what is considered one of the deeper positions in this years draft.

 

Marcedes Lewis is a name that has been bantered around by the Bears front office. Lewis is a very talented receiving tight end who helped carry a revamped Bruins offense in 2005. Lewis led the Bruins in receiving yards (741), touchdowns (10), and receptions (58). He emerged as a star in every game for the Bruins, with exception of the bowl game where he was held in check by the Northwestern Wildcats.

 

Lewis’ disappearance and rather pedestrian 40 time (4.84) led many scouts and draft experts to down-grade Lewis from being a mid to late 1st rounder into being a late 1st to 2nd rounder. The lack of game-breaking speed tends to hurt players stock in the draft, but all you had to do was watch Lewis’ games in the collegiate ranks to notice the match up nightmares he created for the opposition’s linebackers.

 

Lewis has soft hands and a knack for using his body to screen defenders and put him in better position to make catches. Bears offensive coordinator Ron Turner could use a target like Lewis between the 20’s as a safety valve to QB’s Rex Grossman and Brian Griese. However, Lewis greatest value will come in the red zone, where his frame and athleticism will make him a great target and potentially a touchdown magnet.

 

Aside from his lack of speed, many scouts feel Lewis is undersized as a tight end (weight wise). Whichever team drafts him will have him on a workout regime to add muscle. The muscle will help him improve his pass blocking, an area he has struggled with. However, late in the season Lewis made great strides with his run blocking, which is one reason the Bears are intrigued with Lewis.

 

Lewis may be falling on most draft boards, but he’s falling because of a poor combine, not poor performance on the field. All you had to do was watch a few UCLA games to see the type of game-changing plays that Lewis could soon be making at Soldier Field. If selected, the Bears will be hoping that he’ll develop into our first legitimate tight end since Ditka retired.

 

TalkBears.com Projection:

Marcedes Lewis is expected to be there when the Bears are on the clock in the 1st round. There is even an outside chance he will be on the board when the Bears pick in the 2nd round, but if Angelo and company have targeted Lewis as there guy, they will be taking him in the 1st. However, if the Bears brass grades Lewis similarly to Fasano, Pope, Byrd, and Day, you’ll likely see them wait and grab the best available TE in the 2nd round.