The Chicago Bears have one of the most stacked pass-catcher corps in the National Football League. They have so much talent that they could afford to trade DJ Moore to the Buffalo Bills without it being much of an issue.
That may have been why Olamide Zaccheaus chose to leave, and that makes sense to a degree. However, he's about to find out the hard way why he would've been better off in Chicago than he'll be with the Atlanta Falcons.
Olamide Zaccheaus Will See Production Slide With Falcons
Of all the NFL franchises, Zaccheaus chose to join a team with a QB battle between Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr., all while Kevin Stefanski calls the shots on offense. If someone watched the Cleveland Browns for the past five years, they should know that's not a smart decision by any wide receiver.
According to Pro Football Reference, Stefanski's offense had a positive SRS (Simple Rating System) only three times in six years, indicating the scheme was significantly worse than the league average. Stefanski's Browns only ranked in the top 10 in points per game once, and they never ranked higher than 19th in passing yards.
Granted, Zaccheaus will be guaranteed to start alongside Drake London and Jahan Dotson, which wasn't necessarily going to be the case in Chicago. That said, the Falcons will most likely be one of the most run-heavy teams in the league next season, given their mediocre quarterback situation, their run-first head coach, and the fact that they have an elite star at the position in Bijan Robinson.
On top of that, the Bears will probably be back in the playoffs next season and for years to come; they're one of the strongest sides in the NFC. The Falcons, on the other hand, might be more of a retooling team in the first year under Kevin Stefanski, mostly because they're not even the best team in their own division. There are no postseason guarantees in Georgia right now.
Zaccheaus hauled in 39 receptions on 65 targets for 313 yards and two touchdowns in his lone season in the Windy City. He was the odd man out once Luther Burden III took off late in the year, however, and that likely is what contributed to pushing him out the door.
The Bears clearly won't miss him, and they have nothing to do with him as a player. But with Rome Odunze, the aforementioned Burden, Jahdae Walker, and Colston Loveland, Chicago should be more than fine in the pass-catching department.
As such, Zaccheaus might find out that it's not always about driving the numbers up, and that being a starter doesn't always translate into being in a better situation. Sometimes, the grass isn't greener on the other side.