Chicago Bears trade for Dontrelle Inman

The Chicago Bears acquired wide receiver Dontrelle Inman from the Los Angeles Chargers

The Chicago Bears needed a wide receiver. Badly. This should come as no surprise to anyone who knows even the slightest bit about the NFL. The Los Angeles Chargers just so happened to have a logjam at wide receiver. Next thing you know, we have a deal. The Chicago Bears traded a seventh-round conditional pick to the Los Angeles Chargers in exchange for wide receiver Dontrelle Inman. The pick is conditional based on production.

The need for the Bears to add at wide receiver is obvious. They have been dealing with Tre McBride and Tanner Gentry as the starters on the outside. Over the past two weeks, those two have combined for one catch to equal eight yards. That is almost unfathomable.

On the Chargers side, wide receiver is really the last thing they need. Inman played a big role last season, but that was only because Keenan Allen was injured. Allen has returned, Travis Benjamin has taken a step forward, and Tyrell Williams showcased himself as a better talent than Inman last season when the two saw increased roles. Add in that the team drafted Mike Williams in the top ten of the 2017 NFL draft, and he was active for the second week in a row after an offseason injury and it is very clear there is no need for Inman. However, this could still mean that Inman is the most talented wide receiver on the Bears roster.

What is interesting to note about Inman is that last season a lot of his time was played in the slot. When Benjamin was hurt he shifted outside, but they typically ran with Williams and Benjamin on the outside with Inman on the inside. Of the mess of a position that is the wide receiver, Kendall Wright has easily been the most reliable threat. He also has played almost exclusively in the slot this year. Does Wright move or does Inman move?

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Either way, it is pretty clear that this team has plans for Inman immediately. With a recent win, the Bears realized the defense is good enough to continue to fight for the playoffs. At the worst, Inman is a slight upgrade over likely any receiver on the team, and increases those playoff chances, if only by a small margin.