The Facts: Royal is slated for a big role in the Chicago Bears' offense in 2015. The veteran receiver is scheduled to work mostly out of the slot, with Alshon Jeffery, Marquess Wilson and rookie Kevin White -- when healthy -- on the outside. OC Adam Gase went so far as to compare Royal with one of the best slot receivers of this generation: Wes Welker.

Diehards Line: Per the Chicago Tribune, Gase pointed to similarities in sharp vision and route running when making the comparison, also noting that Royal has more top-end speed than Welker. "Eddie's got a special explosiveness that a lot of inside guys don't have," Gase said. "Eddie is a threat at all three levels. He can come underneath. He can break out intermediate. And he can get down the field." Gase worked the last two seasons with Welker in Denver, albeit a Welker whose skills had dissipated due to injury. He also worked with Royal for one season with the Broncos as a position coach in 2011. The 29-year-old receiver has been a standout so far in training camp and should get plenty of snaps come the regular season -- especially if White's shin injury persists early in the season. While he hasn't produced at a consistently high level through his first seven years, Royal should become a big part of the Bears' offense out of the slot.