Chicago Bears: Ranking realistic wide receiver trade targets

Ever since the Chicago Bears obtained the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, fans have been going out of their mind with ideas, potential trades and offseason plans of their own.

And rightfully so, because this hasn’t happened in nearly eight decades.

In the end, though, it appears as though the one option which is off the table is the idea of taking a quarterback with that pick. Instead, the Bears look like they’ll stick with Justin Fields and build around him, which is a good call.

But, that means they’ll need to get him some weapons, and fast. One option the team has is to look at trading for a veteran, and there could be plenty of options this offseason.

The Chicago Bears have many options when it comes to trading for a veteran wide receiver during the offseason.

There are five receivers, in particular, that make some sense for the Bears to pursue via trade. Now, before we get to those five, let’s make a couple of honorable mentions.

DK Metcalf would be included in this list, but it appears the Seattle Seahawks could end up running it back with Geno Smith and company next year. The season they had was so unexpected, and so positive, that Seattle will likely keep him around.

D.J. Moore is also a name some would like to see in trade talks, but the Panthers have made it pretty clear they’re keeping him. Not to mention, Carolina is a team to watch when it comes to trading up for a franchise quarterback. Moore will likely stay in Carolina.

Now, on to number five.

5. Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts

Many Bears fans aren’t exactly enamored with Michael Pittman Jr., but I don’t believe we have seen the best of him yet as a pro. The Colts have been in quarterback purgatory for a few years now, and even Indianapolis hasn’t been able to unlock Pittman’s true potential.

But, with the possibility of Indianapolis trading up to the number one pick, some think Pittman could be involved in a potential deal.

If the Colts were willing to trade Pittman in a deal involving the number one pick, then Chicago should absolutely listen. Assuming they get a haul of picks, plus Pittman, this would be a win.

At 6-foot-4, Pittman is a monster of a man and hard to bring down in space. His catch radius is huge and he’s proven he can be at least a great number two receiver, but some think he can be a number one.

It could end up being a bit of a risk to bank on Pittman being the number one guy, but he’s an upgrade to what the Bears currently have. He’s gone for 2,510 yards and 11 touchdowns in his first three seasons with the Colts.

4. DeAndre Hopkins, Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals are going through some major changes at head coach and general manager, and it looks like they could also part with All Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.

The reason Hopkins is so low on this list? It’s pretty easy to explain. He will be 31 this summer, which definitely makes it difficult to trade anything beyond a third or fourth rounder for his remaining two years and $34 million. Hopkins also wants a new deal if he is dealt.

The other thing making this difficult for the Bears is that Hopkins has a no-trade clause and he does not want to be part of a rebuild, which should automatically take Chicago out of the discussion.

Still, if he is on the trade block, then Poles has to do his due diligence. The Bears have plenty of cap space this offseason, and if they can convince Hopkins they’re making enough moves to be a relevant football team, then maybe he waives his clause to come play with Fields.

It’s unlikely, but it’s definitely worth a shot if you’re the Bears.

3. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Two of the top-five contracts in Tampa Bay are owned by wide receivers, with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin being locked down through 2024 and 2025, respectively. The Buccaneers have quite an offseason ahead of them, with a ton of key free agents they need to decide on, including Tom Brady.

In order to create some room to sign many of their important free agents, the Bucs very well could end up trying to trade Evans, who is three years older than Godwin and will turn 30 in August.

Despite his age, Evans has been a true model of consistency since entering the league. He’s never finished a season with less than 1,000 receiving yards. He’s also finished with double-digit touchdowns in four of his nine seasons. It’s beyond impressive, really.

Tampa Bay could look much different next year, and Evans’ ability to continue playing at a high level should make him an attractive trade target, especially for a team like the Bears.

Fields loves throwing it deep, and Evans is still one of the best outside receivers there is in the game today. His 6-foot-5 frame is a dream for most quarterbacks to be able to throw to. Evans changes things in Chicago from Day 1, that’s for sure.

2. Davante Adams, Las Vegas Raiders

It is extremely difficult not to put Davante Adams at number one on this list, but the next guy is six years younger, and that makes things interesting. But, Adams is still in the prime of his career at 30 years old and he doesn’t appear to be slowing down.

He set the Raiders’ single-season receiving record in his lone year with the team in 2022, and it also might be his last year in Las Vegas.

The Raiders are moving on from Adams’ college teammate and close friend, quarterback Derek Carr, this year. They seem to be trending in a direction where they’re either going to trade the farm for a young, franchise quarterback or end up with a guy like Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers or Jimmy Garoppolo.

Adams is arguably the best wide receiver in the game, and would completely transform this Bears offense. He’s a matchup nightmare, both in short area and on deep routes.

If he’s unhappy with the Raiders’ decision to let go of Carr, it’s not out of the question to think Adams might request a trade. It would be unprecedented, just one year after getting dealt to Las Vegas. But, it’s not farfetched to try and predict.

Adams has four seasons over 1,000 yards receiving, and another two where he finished at 997. He’s gone into double-digit touchdowns on six occasions, and looks like a sure fire Hall of Fame inductee sometime down the line. But for now, he has plenty of football left.

1. Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals

Without a doubt, the top potential trade target for the Bears is Tee Higgins. He turns just 24 years old today and remains on his rookie deal.

So, why would the Bengals opt to trade him?

Cincinnati is going to be in a tough spot, cap-wise, pretty soon. They have a decision to make this offseason on guys like Jessie Bates, Vonn Bell, Max Scharping, Eli Apple, Hayden Hurst, among others. But, they’re also going to have to pay two very important players shortly: Quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase.

With Higgins’ ceiling not even being reached yet, and his talent level even surpassing what he’s been able to produce alongside talent like Chase and Tyler Boyd, he’ll command a hefty contract. But, Chase is likely going to be the guy paid over Higgins, so long as Cincinnati doesn’t find a way to pay them both.

Higgins can do it all. He can line up anywhere. He doesn’t really have a weakness. In three seasons as a pro, Higgins has caught 215 passes for 3,028 yards and 19 touchdowns, and that’s while sharing the field with Chase for two of those years.

This is a guy who could be an alpha wide receiver for the Bears, no question. If Chicago could figure out a way to land Higgins this offseason, they’d be setting Justin Fields and the organization up for long-term success.