As the Chicago Bears kicked off their 2025 training camp under head coach Ben Johnson, the spotlight initially fell on the franchise’s stars like Caleb Williams, DJ Moore, and Rome Odunze. Yet, amid the buzz and expectations, an unexpected name is emerging as a potential steal: undrafted rookie wide receiver JP Richardson.
JP Richardson, a free agent signing out of TCU, entered camp with little fanfare. Unlike first-round picks or established veterans, the 5’11”, 195-pound receiver was largely under the radar. However, his consistent performance during the first week of camp has turned heads among coaches, media, and fans alike.
Reports from various sources, including ESPN’s Courtney Cronin, highlight that Richardson has delivered solid efforts across multiple days. For example, Richardson had a spectacular one-handed grab down the sideline on the very first day of practice that quickly went viral. Beyond highlight plays, Richardson has shown steady reliability, making multiple receptions during team drills and demonstrating impressive route-running and hands.
What makes Richardson’s emergence particularly noteworthy is how well he fits the Bears’ critical offensive shortcomings from last season. The Bears’ receiving corps, despite being very talented, was very inefficient. The below chart is a good example of this as it highlights yards per reception relative to depth of target lagged behind league averages. Notice the Bears are well below average:
Richardson’s efficiency, based on the same metric listed above, is well above average. This suggests he not only finds separation quickly but also generates substantial yards after the catch, a key trait for a slot receiver. To highlight how Richardson could improve on the Bears’ weakness in the area, see the below graph:
Richardson’s rise comes amid unfortunate circumstances in the Bears’ wide receiver room. Second-round draft pick Luther Burden III has yet to practice due to a lingering soft-tissue injury, leaving open opportunities for others to grab attention in camp drills and scrimmages.
Another dimension of Richardson’s value lies in his special teams prowess. In college, he was an accomplished punt returner, averaging nearly 12 yards per return and even scoring a punt return touchdown in his senior year. In a Bears team with fierce competition at receiver, his ability to contribute in multiple phases of the game could prove critical to his making the roster.
The Bears’ receiving corps is deep with stars and veterans, but the slot position has been a notable weakness. Having a hyper-efficient, reliable slot receiver like Richardson could significantly bolster the offense’s passing game. However, Richardson (or any other slot receiver for the Bears) would not get a lot of targets. After all, the Bears have numerous other talented receivers and tight ends who need to be distributed the football. Therefore, a slot receiver in Chicago would have to make the most out of very few targets. And that makes Richardson’s efficiency incredibly valuable.
The NFL has a rich history of undrafted or late-round slot receivers (Wes Welker, Cole Beasley, and Julian Edelman to name a few) who built lasting careers by mastering this niche role. Richardson appears poised to follow a similar path.
While camp remains early and the Bears are still installing head coach Ben Johnson’s offense, Richardson’s consistent impact during the first three days of practice is a promising sign. His ability to make catches under pressure, thrive in a new system, and find space in coverage speaks to a high football IQ and adaptability. Add in his skillful route running, efficiency in the slot role, special teams value, and steady improvement and Richardson is a compelling candidate for a significant role in Chicago’s offense this season.
Disclaimer: The content of this article was originally published as a YouTube video on the Saturday Morning Inspection YouTube channel. With AI assistance, the publisher of the video created this article based on the content of that video.
