Grading the Chicago Bears’ main moves in free agency

Revamping the receiver room (A/A+)

No position group on this team needed an overhaul as badly as the wide receivers did coming into this season.

After all, without making moves, the Chicago Bears would’ve had to spend significant draft capital on receivers to offset coming into this year with Cameron Meredith and Kevin White as your two top options again.

And let’s leave aside the fact that they were both coming off of injured reserve (Meredith with an ACL injury, White with a broken collarbone).

Simply, that just wouldn’t do.

Plus, with Jarvis Landry only acquirable via a trade, they would’ve had to forfeit a lot to bring him to Chicago.

Thankfully, the Bears found other ways to get this done. And truthfully, it’s hard to envision them doing a better job than what they did.

Allen Robinson (A+)

Thank you, Jacksonville Jaguars.

The moment the Jags opted not to put a franchise tag on Robinson and would let him walk, his exit was a foregone conclusion. And the Bears made him their top target right away.

And not only did they grab the best receiver in this free agent trade market by far, they did so at an excellent price.

Robinson signed a three-year, $42 million contract ($14 million a year) with $25.2 million guaranteed. And if things don’t work out with him, they can easily move on in 2020.

Then again, Robinson’s already gushing about Chicago and wanting to retire here, so hopefully we get that scenario instead. And if that does come to pass, it will likely include Robinson being the greatest receiver in Bears history.

Taylor Gabriel (A)

First off, kudos to Pace for not overreaching on Albert Wilson. Though the Bears reportedly had a solid offer on the table, the Miami Dolphins went mad and give him three years and $24 million to pry him away from Chicago.

That would’ve been a bit much for the Bears.

Instead, they got a tremendous backup plan in Gabriel that will fit beautifully in Nagy’s offense.

Gabriel’s speed, versatility, route-running and run-after-the-catch ability could make him another poor man’s Tyreek Hill, along with Cohen, for the Bears.

Just imagining them on the field together making defenses sweat over which ultra-explosive short guy is about to rip off a 40-yard gain on them brings joy to my heart.

The $6.5 million-a-year deal is slightly higher than expected, but given what other receivers had gotten before him, it was to be expected. And it isn’t a bad deal for the Bears, regardless.

Trey Burton (A-)

This move was expected long before Burton hit free agency. Nonetheless, especially after the Bears lost out on Wilson, locking up Burton had to feel pretty good.

Again, the $8 million a year and $22 million guaranteed was probably more than the Bears had originally thought they’d pay. But all in all, it’s not bad at all.

And with him, the Chicago Bears have a true flex tight end that can line up as a receiver and stretch the field. Putting him and Adam Shaheen on the field would create beautiful matchup problems for defenses.

Plus, he’s only 26.

Pace has done an excellent job bringing in younger talent for Trubisky to grow with. And Burton is no exception.

And if he can make his game look anything like Zach Ertz‘s, we’ll take that all day, every day.