The Chicago Bears are roughly two weeks away from their season opener against the Minnesota Vikings, but it might as well be called “The Big Reveal.” Everyone from Ben Johnson to Joe Thuney to Colston Loveland will be making their Chicago debuts under the lights in primetime, and fans are hoping that the Bears' additions will help them climb out of last place in the NFC North.
While all of the new moves have brought some form of excitement, there will undoubtedly be one that rises above the rest. The best chance for that to happen is at wide receiver, where the Bears invested plenty to bring in Luther Burden III and Devin Duvernay. But the biggest addition may have been a journeyman receiver that could flourish in Johnson’s offense.
Olamide Zaccheaus Could Be the Bears’ Best Offseason Addition
The signing of Olamide Zaccheaus didn’t create many headlines, but it could be the addition that gets the Bears’ offense going. You can’t see it in his career stats, where the 28-year-old has averaged 28 catches for 382 yards and two touchdowns over his six seasons. He has also managed over 500 receiving yards just once in his career so far. But it’s his ability to make plays after the catch that has Johnson excited.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell had the evidence, tabbing Zaccheaus as “a luxury player” as a fourth receiver on the team. With his ability to block and make plays, Barnwell compared Zaccheaus’s impact to the same of Pittsburgh Steelers star DK Metcalf and Jordan Addison of the Minnesota Vikings.
“Zaccheaus is undersized at 5-foot-8, 193 pounds, but he has still carved out a role in the NFL by being an aggressive, willing blocker,” Barnwell wrote. “He was effective as both a blocker and receiver on the tunnel and bubble screens the Commanders ran last season; he was also capable of finding holes out of coverage in the slot. …And while Zaccheaus is never going to command their sort of target share, [the 28-year-old] is one of the league’s most effective wideouts without the ball in his hands.”
Caleb Williams is one player who has already realized that good things happen when he throws the ball in Zaccheaus’s direction. Zaccheaus caught a 36-yard touchdown pass from Williams in the Bears’ second preseason game against the Buffalo Bills and had four catches for 73 yards over all three preseason contests.
Zaccheaus isn’t likely to overthrow the players in front of him and become a superstar, but he could be a player they haven’t had in past seasons, as someone who could provide functional depth. It could make Zaccheaus a fan-favorite in Chicago and lead to a breakout season in 2025.