The Bears’ wide receiver depth chart has a fragile look to it, and that’s exactly why an undrafted rookie like Omari Kelly has a path to matter in training camp.
Chicago’s top two names are Luther Burden III and Rome Odunze, but after that the room gets a lot less certain. The article points to former Detroit Lions veteran Kalif Raymond as the next-best option, which is why any injury to Burden or Odunze in 2026 could leave the Bears in a tough spot.
That opens the door for Kelly, the Michigan State product who arrives without NFL experience but with a skill set that fits what Chicago may need. He’s not being mentioned to take anything away from Jahdae Walker or rookie Zavion Thomas, both of whom have already given fans reasons to be optimistic. Still, the uncertainty around all three is part of the story.
Kelly’s appeal starts on special teams. Like Raymond, he has punt-return experience, and he was productive doing it in college.
On 20 returns, Kelly averaged 11.7 yards and brought one back for a touchdown. He also brings a similar build to the conversation, listed at 6 feet and 190 pounds, while Raymond is 5-foot-8 and 180 pounds.
The speed comparison is there too, though not identical. Raymond ran a 4.34 40-yard dash coming out of college, while Kelly posted a 4.48.
At the pro level, though, the article makes clear that the stopwatch only tells part of the story. If Kelly is going to help as a returner and special teams piece, his vision will matter more than raw time.
Once he gets through traffic, he has enough burst to turn it into a real gain.
His size may also help him hold up a little better as a receiver than Raymond, who is more of a slot player. Kelly is also projected to work in that area, but the extra length gives him a slightly different look as he tries to carve out a role.
The most obvious battle for him comes with veteran Scotty Miller for that last receiver spot. Miller has been around, but the production has been limited: he has never topped 33 catches in a season, and over the last three years he has just 25 receptions combined. He’s also another undersized target, listed at 5-foot-9 and 174 pounds.
For Kelly, the formula is simple. Show he can help on special teams, stack good practices at receiver, and make enough noise in camp to force the Bears to keep him around.
Michigan State fans would point to his work in the middle of the field and after the catch, and that kind of playmaking is the sort of thing Ben Johnson is likely to notice. Johnson’s offense is built to create openings and let players do damage once the ball is in their hands.
That’s where Kelly has a real opening. If he proves he can be a threat after the catch, he brings something Miller does not, and that could make him one of the more interesting roster candidates in Bears camp.
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