The Bear Goggles On Countdown to Kickoff series is now underway for the second season in a row. With 85 days to go until the Bears season kicks off, we will highlight the Bears player that is wearing number 85, tight end, Daniel Brown
2016 Review
Brown started his 2016 season on the Baltimore Ravens. However, he was waived just six games into the season. He was active for only two games over that span. The Bears claimed him off of waivers two days later. To the surprise of some, Brown wound up making an impact for them over six weeks of the season. Brown caught 16 passes for 124 yards and his first career touchdown in week 12. He became a valuable wide receiver threat and gave the Bears confidence to give another year to come back to training camp.
2017 Outlook
Brown is a tight end, but he is essentially a big wide receiver. He was drafted as a wide receiver. He typically does play in the slot as a pass catcher, and he is lining up wide more than he is on the line. Brown is not a great blocker, which is not a great sign for him making the team.
The team signed a plethora of wide receivers in free agency. Victor Cruz, Markus Wheaton, Kendall Wright, even Rueben Randle is in the mix. On top of that, they drafted and signed a tight end. Brown is in between both positions on a team that has a lot of options at both positions. Brown will have to prove himself as a special teams asset and show steps as a blocking option to have a chance at making the 53-man roster.
Future with the Bears
Brown is on a year-by-year basis. He is going to have to win a roster spot this year and will be fighting to maintain his status throughout the season. While he may be able to find his way to the practice squad for one more season, but there is no guarantee that Brown will be with the Bears at this point next season. He almost just as easily could still be a depth player on the team next season if he does well in training camp and over the course of this upcoming season.