Chicago Bears 2017 free agency: Players they should target

Kenny Stills, WR (6-foot-1, 195 pounds)

Have I mentioned enough that the wide receiver corps of the Chicago Bears needs revamping? Well, let me say it again. This was one bad unit. They had TEN drops in just one game! Yes, the injuries played a huge part in their failings in 2016, but we saw that there was no depth at the position.

As many said on numerous occasions, the Bears’ plan includes a new quarterback. Parting ways with Jay Cutler will still rile some fans. Those defending him are as adamant as those criticizing him. Once the Bears go to a new signal caller, they better do what they can to protect him. They do that not only by improving the offensive line, but also by surrounding him with dependable receivers.

Kenny Stills is one of those dependable receivers. In 2016, he made 42 catches for 726 yards and 9 touchdowns. Again, that was NINE touchdowns. The entire Chicago Bears wide receiver unit scored a grand total of 8, four of them by Jeffery and Royal, who may not be around in 2017.

Offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains runs a similar offense to that of Adam Gase. Gase left Chicago for Miami and led the Dolphins to the playoffs in his first season as head coach. I’m not saying that Loggains is as good as Gase, but he took undue criticism in 2016. He could only work with what he had, and what he had was not something conducive to succeeding.

Next: Chicago Bears draft profile: Nate Peterman

Stills will garner a lot of attention in free agency because of the touchdowns. Teams need players who can find their way into the end zone. The Bears did well in gaining yards on their drives. They ranked 8th in the NFL in yards per drive (33.2), but they ranked 27th in average points scored per drive (1.5). Having a guy who scored touchdowns gets everyone revved up, and ultimately leads to more wins, which is what head coach John Fox and the rest of Bears management need.