Chicago Bears: Examining wide receiver need
As the Chicago Bears prepare for the start of free agency in March, wide receiver may be the team’s biggest need this off-season.
There is no question that the Chicago Bears have several needs as they head into the off-season.
For one, the Bears have a large question mark at the quarterback position. Jay Cutler is not expected to return to the Bears in 2017 and Brian Hoyer, Matt Barkley, and Connor shaw are all free agents.
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The Bears have a need for a dependable tight end considering Zach Miller has routinely struggled to stay healthy for the length for a full season.
On defense, the Bears have a need for a pass-rusher and for competent play in their secondary.
What may be the Bears’ biggest need this off-season, however, is the wide receiver position.
The Bears’ primary wide receiver, Alshon Jeffery, is a free agent and the team must decide between applying the franchise tag to him for a second consecutive season, signing him to a long-term contract extension, or letting him walk via free agency.
Jeffery has struggled with injuries over the course of the past two season and that may make the Bears cautious of signing him to a long-term contract. Therefore, it would seem likely that the Bears would apply the franchise tag to Jeffery for a second consecutive season. Because of the lack of depth at the wide receiver position, the Bears cannot afford to lose Jeffery this off-season.
The lack of depth is what makes the wide receiver position the biggest need for the Bears this off-season.
Kevin White is entering his third season with the team, and yet, he hasn’t played a full season due to injuries he has suffered the past two years. The Bears do not know what they have in their 2015 first round selection and that is concerning.
Eddie Royal is a candidate to be cut this off-season considering he has struggled with injuries over the course of the past two seasons and there is no more remaining money left on his contract with the team.
Jeffery, White, and Royal were meant to be the Bears’ top three wide receivers in 2016. However, there is a chance that the Bears could be without two of their expected top three receivers if Jeffery walks and Royal is cut this off-season.
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For an offense that will likely have a young quarterback under center in 2017, the Bears are going to need dependable wide receivers. That need can’t be overlooked as the Bears’ plan their moves for the off-season.