Taylor Gabriel, WR
Pro Football Focus (PFF) is not my favorite site. I truly find their grades laughable at times. Offensive line grades are worth a look mainly because there are not many other sites out there doing it. What does set PFF apart, in my opinion, is how they track stats that many other sites do not track — even sites like ESPN or even the NFL.
The first ex-player of the Chicago Bears’ 2019 roster to show up in PFF’s top-30 free agents left on the market is Taylor Gabriel. I like Gabriel. He is a solid second or third option and could thrive in the right offense. He did fairly well here in Chicago, but concussions set him back last season. Even if he did not have the injuries, he would have still been a cap casualty.
In 25 games, Gabriel averaged 41.64 receiving yards and nearly four catches per game. He also scored a touchdown once every four games. He is not a top wide receiver in the NFL, but he deserves to find a roster spot on another team.
Gabriel brings an aspect to the football field not many guys bring. He has game-breaking speed but also a 63 percent catch percentage over his career. Most speed guys usually fall under the 60 percent threshold. Having a guy like Gabriel on the outside helps keep defenses honest and helps pull defenders out of the box, which can help with the run game.
I would like to see Gabriel land with a team like the Dallas Cowboys. A team that could use a third receiving option — especially one who can burn many corners.