4 free agents the Chicago Bears must win a bidding war on

2. Calvin Ridley, Wide receiver

This is one of the signings that I'm anticipating most for the Chicago Bears.

In the passing league that the NFL has become, the need for studs at the wide receiver position is crucial. And when a rookie quarterback is coming into the scene, having as many well-versed receivers as possible is only a plus.

The major issue is that Ridley is going to cost quite a bit for whichever team he goes to unless it's the Chiefs. The Chiefs are a team that gets the "Winner's Discount," but 31 other teams are paying full price.

Per Spotrac, that amount is about $17 million per year, with a projected contract of four years, $ 68 million.

Are the Chicago Bears willing to pay $17 million for a soon-to-be 30-year-old wide receiver? It's possible due to how barren the Bears' receiver room is, and Calvin Ridley possesses an impressive skill set.

A major if, but if the Bears walked out of Day 1 of the 2024 NFL Draft with Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze, Calvin Ridley would be a great choice to add to the mix. It'd be tough not to be excited about an offense with Caleb Williams at the helm, throwing to D.J. Moore, Rome Odunze, Calvin Ridley, Darnell Mooney, and Cole Kmet.

Going for Ridley, however, will cost them. If the Bears want Calvin Ridley catching passes in their uniform next season, they're going to need to be aggressive in their bidding.