Chicago Bears: Victor Cruz has a lot to offer as a player, mentor

The Chicago Bears hope that Victor Cruz has some good football ahead of him and that he can rub off on their young receivers.

When he finally returned to action in 2016 following multiple leg injuries, Victor Cruz proved he could still make plays. Now, the veteran receiver is aiming to show the Chicago Bears what he offers, both individually and as an elder statesman of a young receiver group.

Comeback Cruz?

Two years removed from major knee surgery to repair a torn patellar tendon, Cruz says he feels “very close” to regaining his Pro Bowl form. From Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times:

"“It’s just about getting my bearings,” said Cruz, who had 168 catches for 2,628 yards and 19 touchdowns during the 2011 and 2012 seasons after going undrafted out of Massachusetts in 2010. “I have that potential to be that guy you saw a few years ago.”"

If he’s at full strength, he very well could make this signing worth the Bears’ while for a couple years.

Cruz will turn 31 this coming November, so fans should temper their expectations for him being in Chicago long-term. However, a healthy Cruz undoubtedly helps a football team treading a tenuous line between “winning now” and building for later. After all, even in a down year in which the Giants slowly phased him out of the offense in favor of Odell Beckham Jr. and Sterling Shepard, he still managed 39 catches, 586 yards and a touchdown.

Cruz as a Mentor

Perhaps more importantly, his six years of NFL experience puts him in prime position to tutor this young receiving corps. In fact, the veteran wideout discussed his role as a potential mentor this week at OTAs:

"“I understood that coming in,” said Cruz, who signed Tuesday. “In the NFL, you kind of just fall into this leadership category. After a certain number of years, it’s like, ‘OK, you’re the veteran. Well, what? I just got here.’“But I think I fold into that mold very well. I think it’s natural for me, and I’m excited to help these young guys get better and watch them grow.”"

On one hand, bringing in Cruz might seem counterproductive to the development of young receivers like Daniel Braverman. Though Braverman struggled to make an impact as a rookie, the Bears and their fans still want to see what he offers.

But Cruz’s signing is about more than just creating competition. His presence could positively affect the entire receiver group. In particular, Cruz can offer perspectives from playing all receiver positions, though he prefers the slot. This could be crucial to both Cameron Meredith and Kevin White‘s development. If both can become weapons outside and in the slot, they could be more formidable than people expect.

Besides, if Cruz proves he can produce at his accustomed level, who cares if he plays over a seventh-round pick?

Low Risk/High Reward

All in all, Cruz represents a minimal risk move that potentially provides a lot of upside for the Bears. He’s only on a one-year contract worth $2 million guaranteed ($2 million in incentives), typical of Ryan Pace’s play-it-safe approach to free agency. And, two years removed from his major knee injury, he may well finally be nearing top form again. He also fits with the Bears’ current offensive setup, which appears to favor shorter throws and more yards after the catch.

Next: Kevin White knows he must impress Chicago Bears this year

And for a young receiving corps, Cruz can pay dividends of another kind. If he can be a positive influence on Meredith, White, Braverman and the rest, Mike Glennon and Mitch Trubisky may be in better hands for the future than many assume. He may not be here when the Chicago Bears are relevant again, but that doesn’t mean he can’t help both short and long-term.

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