Why the Chicago Bears should consider wide receiver a need

The Chicago Bears have many needs this offseason. Not many will think wide receiver should be a priority, but this is a need Ryan Pace must not ignore.

With the offseason quickly approaching, the Chicago Bears will need to focus on their roster and make some necessary changes. We can all agree that offensive line and tight end are the Bears’ biggest needs in the 2020 NFL Draft. Quarterback also needs to be a priority, but Ryan Pace will need to be more creative with that one.

The priority of needs after these three positions can be debatable. The team needs to find an inside linebacker to play next to Roquan Smith if they cannot re-sign Nick Kwiatkowski. Yes, unfortunately, Danny Trevathan is likely out the door. The team could use another EDGE rusher and well, the defensive line will need another body or two as well.

Wow, how could I forget cornerback? Prince Amukamara will need to be a cap casualty this offseason. Kevin Toliver might be able to fill in, but the team needs to at least add some depth. In my opinion, the Chicago Bears need to focus on adding at least one offensive lineman, a tight end, a quarterback and a corner in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Drafting for need is not how to succeed in the NFL though. If a first-round talent drops to them in the second round, the team should definitely snatch him up. This could be any position really. EDGE or offensive tackle would be ideal here as many players drafted after Day 2 at these positions rarely turn into superstars.

In my perfect world, the Bears will add a top offensive line free agent like Brandon Scherff or Jack Conklin. Then they will look to add a discounted corner to replace Amukamara. My top choice would be James Bradberry. Just like Amukamara, Taylor Gabriel should be a cap casualty this offseason. He would save the team $4.5 million dollars.

Allen Robinson needs to be extended as he is in the final year of his contract. Pace should not let him reach free agency in 2021. Anthony Miller has talent but has now suffered another injury to the same shoulder he had issues with during 2018. Javon Wims finally saw more playing time last year but was not the receiver we thought he could be. Riley Ridley will need to show more than he did last season, but maybe more opportunity is all he needs.

Either way, the 2020 NFL Draft looks to be filled with wide receiver talent. Ryan Pace must agree as the team has met with multiple wide receivers from the East/West Shrine Game and the Senior Bowl. There could be as many as seven wide receivers drafted in the first round. I doubt that many go that early, but there are at least seven receivers who have first-round talent.

Names like Justin Jefferson, Donovan Peoples-Jones and Van Jefferson could be receivers the Chicago Bears consider in the second round. However, even a guy like Chase Claypool in the fourth would be a solid addition. Wide receiver cannot be ignored this offseason. The team needs to add more talent to pair with Allen Robinson.

Where would you rank wide receiver on the Chicago Bears needs’ list? Imagine if they find a guy like Tyreek Hill to their roster. Even Mitchell Trubisky could look like a star with a receiver like that on the depth chart.