Chicago Bears: Controversial, intriguing free agent wide receivers

This year’s crop of free agent wide receivers isn’t as star-studded as years’ past, but the Chicago Bears have some intriguing options.

Chicago Bears fans have long suffered from a lack of depth at the wide receiver position. Once upon a time, some were fooled into thinking a washed up Roy Williams would be the answer as a true no. 1 option.

I am sure you all remember the days Lovie Smith tried turning Devin Hester into a no. 1 wideout, and that idea failed miserably.

Season after season, the team struggled to find any significant options at the position. Finally, a couple of seasons out of Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery gave us all a breath of fresh air.

Inevitably, Marshall was not the right long-term fit within the locker room and Jeffery left via free agency. Once again, the Bears were left with one of the worst receiving cores in the league.

Then, last year happened. Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy went on a mission to surround Mitchell Trubisky with as much talent as possible. Enter: Allen Robinson, Taylor Gabriel and rookie Anthony Miller.

Bears fans saw a position of weakness turn to a position of depth and strength. But this offseason, they may be in the market for another wideout.

Veterans Kevin White and Josh Bellamy are free agents, and the former is likely done in Chicago. Bellamy could be brought back as a “glue guy,” and second-year wideout Javon Wims could end up being the fourth option regardless.

Depending on how Bellamy’s situation shakes out, the Bears may be looking at free agent receivers once again. However, they won’t have the budget for another big-time signing. The following are some intriguing and somewhat controversial options out there on the market this year. Let’s begin with a guy everyone loves to hate.