The Chicago Bears have used the offseason thus far to make tweaks to the roster, but there are still some spots that need juice. ESPN's Aaron Schatz released an article discussing the top needs for all 32 teams in the league, and for Chicago, he listed slot receiver.
Schatz pointed out that Chicago played in 11 personnel on 52% of their snaps in 2025, so with Luther Burden and Rome Odunze as the clear two top options, the third spot on the inside is up for grabs. And when you take a look at available free agents, Deebo Samuel is an intriguing name and someone the Bears should consider.
The Bears should think about signing Deebo Samuel
Samuel has been an offensive chess piece throughout his career. Last season, he spent the year with the Washington Commanders but was still productive. Over 16 games, Samuel finished with 72 receptions for 727 receiving yards and five touchdowns. He also added 75 rushing yards and another score.
And before heading to the Commanders, he played for the 49ers over six seasons. Across 81 games there, he had 4,792 receiving yards, 1,143 rushing yards, and 42 total touchdowns.
Of course, Samuel isn't the same elite playmaker he was in his prime, but he still has juice to be a productive weapon. In an offense crafted by Ben Johnson, Samuel would be a fun weapon to watch and would give this roster a proven veteran, rather than leaning on players with questions entering the campaign.
Last season, the Bears played Burden in the slot in 40% of his offensive snaps (203), but with Moore no longer in the building, he will be asked to play on the outside a bit more in 2026. And when you look at the rest of the depth chart, Kalif Raymond and Zavion Thomas are the other names that will be asked to fill in at slot receiver.
Raymond, 31, is more of a depth receiver who can provide some juice as a return man. Over the past two seasons with the Detroit Lions, Raymond has logged fewer than 25 catches and 300 receiving yards. Meanwhile, the consensus boards believe that Thomas was drafted early. During his time at LSU, he finished with 106 receptions, 1,213 receiving yards, and seven touchdowns, but he needs polish and refinement as a route runner. He did run a blazing 4.28 40-yard dash, but expecting him to be a major contributor as a rookie is a reach.
Read more: Tyson Bagent gave strong opinion on whether Bears continue new tradition in 2026
That makes the idea of signing someone like Samuel more interesting. There's a pathway that this addition would work out for both sides. Minicamps and OTAs are around the corner, with training camp not far after. GM Ryan Poles should think about signing Samuel for the 2026 campaign on a low-risk, high-incentive-based deal.
Add us as a preferred source on Google