Chicago Bears: Predicting the final wide receivers depth chart

Newcomer Damiere Byrd should win the Chicago Bears fourth receiver spot

Sorry Javon Wims and Riley Ridley, neither of you is earning the fourth spot on the wide receiver depth chart. Instead, I expect that position to go to newcomer Damiere Byrd. Byrd is an undrafted free agent who found playing time in Carolina. He never amounted to much with the Panthers. He only played in 17 games over three years and started only three. His best year with the Panthers came in 2017 when he caught 10 passes for 105 yards and two touchdowns.

Byrd found more success with the Cardinals in 2019. He played in 11 games that year and started another three games. He saw 46 targets, catching 32 of them for 359 yards and a touchdown. Then, Byrd saw the best season of his career while playing for the Patriots last year. He started 14 of the 16 games he played in while catching 47 of his 77 targets for 604 yards. The only downfall was that he only scored one touchdown.

Byrd is taking a backseat to the opportunities he saw in 2020 as he joins a Chicago Bears wide receiver group that is pretty established at the top of the depth chart. Could he unseat Anthony Miller as the WR3? Doubtful. I think we see Byrd in a complementary role similar to what he saw in Arizona in 2019. I think he will see 35 to 45 targets and 25 to 35 percent of the offensive snaps.