The Chicago Bears decided to make a couple of notable changes to the wide receiver room this offseason after Ben Johnson took over as the head coach.
The Bears did not re-sign Keenan Allen and instead signed free agents Olamide Zaccheaus and Devin Duvernay to one-year deals. Zaccheaus and Duvernay will play different roles this season in Chicago, but Johnson targeted them for a specific reason.
Then, in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Bears took one of the best receivers in the country in Luther Burden III. With Burden III, Chicago has a chance to create one of the best WR trios in the NFL with D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze.
However, Burden has been dealing with an injury in spring workouts, which is something to monitor in training camp.
That said, if the former Missouri wideout is still hampered or doesn’t show enough to earn the slot role, that could open the door for Zaccheaus to emerge as a go-to option for second-year quarterback Caleb Williams.
New Bears WR Olamide Zaccheaus Could Have Breakout Year Under Ben Johnson
The Bears signed the 27-year-old Zaccheaus to a one-year, $1.5 million deal in free agency. It was surprising to see the veteran wide receiver come away with a deal less than $2 million, especially with how he played with the Washington Commanders.
For a team that didn’t necessarily have a certified WR2 or WR3, Zaccheaus stepped up after a quiet 2023 season with the Philadelphia Eagles and became one of those go-to options for QB Jayden Daniels. Zacchaeus turned in 45 receptions (64 targets) for 506 yards and three TDs.
Again, those aren’t earth-shattering numbers and ones that won’t move the needle for teams to sign him. However, Zacchaeus hadn’t put up those stats since his days with the Atlanta Falcons. Therefore, one could suspect that teams were potentially worried that this was another flash in the pan by the veteran as he played in a spread-out offense.
But the Bears don’t believe that to be the case, as Zaccheaus could duplicate the numbers that Allen had in 2024. If Bears fans remember, Allen had 70 receptions (121 targets) for 744 yards and seven touchdowns.
Those numbers weren’t great by what Allen’s standards were, but it showed what a WR3 could play alongside Moore and Odunze.
Zaccheaus may not hit those markers, especially the targets, as Odunze should be better in Year 2. However, anything close to 700-plus or even 600-plus and four or five TDs for the vet wideout could generate a sizable market next offseason.
Over the last couple of years, when Johnson was in Detroit, we’ve seen WR3s thrive and get themselves another contract the next year. Tim Patrick was viewed as damaged goods after suffering two devastating injuries in 2022 and 2023.
Detroit took a chance on Patrick, and it paid off as he had 394 receiving yards and three scores. He was also rewarded with a one-year deal worth $2.5 million. Before there was Patrick, the Lions had Josh Reynolds, who was a WR2/3 in 2023, and he racked up 40 receptions for 608 yards and five touchdowns.
Reynolds was able to secure a two-year, $9 million deal the next offseason from the Denver Broncos. If Zaccheaus receives a similar deal from another team like Reynolds, it might be hard for Chicago to keep him, as they don’t have much cap space in 2026 as currently constructed.