Is Parris Campbell a hidden gem for Chicago Bears in NFL free agency?

The Chicago Bears will obviously be in the market for a wide receiver this off-season. One name to keep an eye on is Parris Campbell. Campbell is a free agent after a disappointing four seasons with the Indianapolis Colts. Still, he will be entering free agent at 25 years old and will be 26 in September.

These are the types of free agents to bet on, and these are the types that Ryan Poles showed interest in last season. They have the chance to give their best years while in Chicago when they sign at that point.

Should Chicago Bears sign Parris Campbell?

What makes Campbell intriguing is that he spent his first three seasons injured. It is hard to say he is injury prone but more unlucky. It seemed like he could not catch a break.

First, it was an ab injury, then someone stepped on his hand. Next, he broke his foot. The next year it was a concussion and an MCL injury. Finally, in year three it was a foot injury. Issues kept coming.

He finally started healthy in 2022 and played the full season. He played 977 snaps last year, that is 1,413 career snaps. He also had 623 of 932 career receiving yards.

Parris Campbell did not blow up and have a breakout season, but let us look around here. He was on the Colts. Matt Ryan was coming in to learn a new playbook, he got benched, his coach got fired, and they became the joke of the NFL quickly after.

So, the one year Campbell actually has a chance to produce, the situation is the worst of his career.

It sets up for him to be a bargain signing. Campbell is healthy and has been healthy for a full season and more now. He had enough production that you can trust his age 26 through 30 seasons could still be productive.

Campbell was drafted ahead of D.K. Metcalf, Diontae Johnson, and Terry McLaurin. He has the talent. Beyond that, he fits with the Chicago Bears.

The team would be able to mix him in and out of the slot as their third wide receiver. Both Chase Claypool and Darnell Mooney can also move into the slot, so all three wideouts would be interchangeable.

Campbell has the speed of Mooney, but the gadget and big play upside that Claypool brings. He brings a nice mix. Beyond that, we have seen him on reverses and jet sweeps, and we know that Luke Getsy loves when wide receivers can impact the running game.

The downside to Chicago Bears signing Parris Campbell

The downside of signing Campbell is that the wide receiver room would start to get tight. With Mooney, Claypool, Campbell, Velus Jones, and Equanimeous St. Brown, there is not much room for any other big options, and if they do come in it is probably depth names in case injuries do occur.

This would be a nice fit if Claypool was a trusted number one, and Mooney was the speedy number two. Then, he is the gadget slot with a real upside. Still, with the questions that Claypool has, adding the questions of what Campbell could be is a lot to ask.