What might have sounded insane four months ago may be a bit more realistic now. When Anthony Miller was ejected from the Chicago Bears playoff loss to the Saints it seemed all but a done deal that he would be shipped out, if not released before this time.
However, it was clear that the times to unload have passed now. The Bears flirted him in trade talks when they were fishing for Russell Wilson. There was buzz that he may get traded before the draft. However, those were the two best times to deal him, and they have passed.
Now, it gets much messier with player movement, and almost every team has locked in on thieir guys or their roster. At the very least, these teams will now head into camp with the group that they have and go from there.
Had the Chicago Bears traded Miller on draft weekend they could have drafted a replacement with his pick, or at least given a team the option to take a veteran over a late-round flier.
The Chicago Bears drafted Dazz Newsome, who is almost solely a slot receiver. He could make the roster this season due to his special teams ability. However, when you look up and down this roster, that is the only receiver with legitimate slot experience to step in.
It sounds great to have a rookie late pick to step in like nothing happened, but that rarely is the case. Newsome has a huge learning curve, and is limited athletically. Special teams may be his ceiling.
The Bears signed Marquise Goodwin, but his profile is mainly Darnell Mooney insurance. They signed Damiere Byrd, but he has hardly played the slot, and may be booting Riley Ridley or Javon Wims out, and not Miller.
Fans are frustrated by Miller, and it is because all of his errors are mental. However, when discussing trade talks, and looking at their roster, the Bears may have realized that his physical upside is still more valuable on the roster than whatever it is that they can find to replace him.
There is a chance that the Bears could cut him in training camp, but that would mean someone stepping up in the slot, and someone going down elsewhere causing a hole and a need. Anthony Miller was all but gone, and now, somehow he is still here, and may not go anywhere.