Chicago Bears free agency: Wide receivers

Travis Benjamin — Cleveland Browns 

Benjamin needs to get out of the circus that is the Cleveland Browns. They have a landfill full of quarterbacks who have gone there to fizz out. He needs a quarterback who can get him the ball.

Even with the carousel of quarterbacks, Benjamin has changed the narrative on him. He was considered just a deep threat receiver and punt returner, but not someone to depend on regularly. Think of another Devin Hester.

Things changed in 2015.

Benjamin was targeted 96 career times going into this season. He had 41 career catches for 717 yards and five touchdowns.

This season, he was targeted 125 times, making 68 catches for 966 yards and five touchdowns. He also added 324 yards and a touchdown via punt returns for a total of 1,302 all-purpose yards and six touchdowns.

While his touches went up, his yards per reception average was 14.2, so he still had a few bombs, but he added the mid-range game as well.

The Chicago Bears utilize short passes in their offense, so having a receiver like Benjamin who could take a screen and go for a big gain would be critical to get the offense moving.

Using Benjamin’s punt returning skills would also be of great help to the special teams. Since Hester’s exit, the Chicago Bears have struggled getting yards and scores, not having a punt returned for a touchdown since his absence. Benjamin would not have to score a lot, but getting big chunks of yards would give the offense a smaller field to work with, leading to easier touchdowns.

It would be interesting to see how a Cutler-to-Benjamin combination would work. They could make a successful duo, and give the Chicago Bears a good offensive threat.

Next: He Has Flown Under The Radar, But Is Ready To Break Out