Chicago Bears can solve receiver hole by signing Dez Bryant
By Ryan Heckman
The Dallas Cowboys have officially released Dez Bryant. Ryan Pace and the Chicago Bears would be wise to do whatever it takes to sign him.
Ryan Pace and the Chicago Bears were looking just fine at the wide receiver position, assuming Cameron Meredith came back. After Pace failed to match the New Orleans Saints’ offer sheet, though, it opened an immediate hole.
Friday morning, the Dallas Cowboys made headlines that could lead to the Bears’ fortune. Dez Bryant is officially a free agent.
It was a short meeting between #Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and Dez Bryant. After months speculation, Bryant was released and a marquee 29-year old free agent is on the market midway through April with several WR needy teams.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 13, 2018
I know. I’ve heard it all before.
He has an attitude problem.
He has lost a step.
He isn’t the same guy he was a few years back.
He has struggled with drops.
I’m going to stop you there. First of all, he is definitely not the same guy he was five years ago, and that’s totally fine. Does he have an attitude? Sure, he does. But, I’m going to assume this is a huge wake-up call for Bryant, and that if placed in the right environment, he will bounce back.
If I didn’t have my edge I got it now... I’m sorry they got to feel me it’s personal... it’s very personal
— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) April 13, 2018
Matt Nagy has certainly provided his new team with the right environment, that is without question. The truth is, Bryant leads the NFL in receiving touchdowns since 2012. Nobody has been better, and that’s with two “down” years.
The issue with Bryant, according to many, is the fact that his catch rate has been so poor. But, if you look closer, you’ll notice that his catch rate has dropped significantly with Dak Prescott throwing him the ball. Here’s a tidbit from last season, according to Marcus Mosher:
Dez Bryant has 102 targets this season.
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) November 28, 2017
He has 53 catches.
PFF says that he's had just 60 catchable passes this season.
42 uncatchable passes!!!
The thing is, that number stayed roughly the same for the final month of the season. By the end of the year, 40.15% of Bryant’s targets were uncatchable.
That number is staggering.
If he were to be paired up with an accurate passer like Mitchell Trubisky, I’d say those numbers look much different in 2018. Count in the fact that Allen Robinson will be the number one option, taking pressure off Bryant and giving him less double-team scenarios, I think he is well worth signing.
One last idea: Put Bryant in the slot to extend his career a few more years. It has worked for veterans in the past, most notably Larry Fitzgerald as of late. If Bryant’s big body were to be heavily utilized in the slot, his production would skyrocket — I guarantee it.
Must Read: Bears mock draft 3.0 with trades
If the Bears want to go into the draft without any big questions at the wide receiver position, the time to make a move is right now.