10 best realistic free agent targets for Chicago Bears

4. Is Christian Kirk the slot target Justin Fields needs?

The Chicago Bears are likely to sign a wide receiver this free agency. They are probably going to draft one as well considering the state of the room. With Darnell Mooney in the role of the Z receiver, they will need an X and a slot.

There are potential X wide-outs available in free agency, but those types of players are less likely to getaway. The Chicago Bears would be best off to skip the X and develop one in the draft. That would mean signing a slot wide receiver.

Of the slot wideouts available in free agency, Christian Kirk is the best fit for the Chicago Bears. Fans are down on the idea of Kirk because his stats are not great, but most of that is on the Cardinals, and not Kirk. Kirk is a slot, but until 2021, never played more than 50% of his snaps from the slot. Last year, they finally moved him into the slot 78% of the snaps he played per PFF.

The results were an increase from 1.4 yards per route run to 1.8 and a career year in raw statistics. Most slot wideouts have short target depths, but Kirk has an average depth of target of 12.1. His target depth is deeper in the slot than the outside, too. Justin Fields is top five in deep ball attempts and his target depth in 10.1, so Kirk is a deep threat who can expand what Justin Fields does best. Doing it in the slot opens up so much for so many other players in this offense.

As far as a stylistic fit, there is no one better in free agency than Christian Kirk to pair with Justin Fields.