Should Chicago Bears sign Allen Lazard in free agency?
The Chicago Bears will be looking to sign a wide receiver in free agency this offseason. They have Chase Claypool and Darnell Mooney so they are looking for one strong fit to put the room together. One name that will be considered in free agency is Allen Lazard.
Should Chicago Bears sign Allen Lazard in free agency?
According to Spotrac, Lazard is projected to see $12,5M per year, and PFF has him projected for $11M per year. Both see him signed on a three-year deal.
Allen Lazard will be 28 this season after his fifth NFL season. He was a UDFA by the Jaguars, and they let him slip away. He did not do much as a rookie but slowly ascended up the depth chart. Last season can be viewed in two different lights.
First, he had 788 yards a career-high. However, he also proved that he is not going to be a team's number one wide out. The Green Bay Packers came in expecting him to take an even bigger leap, and while he saw a jump in yards, Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs jumped him as rookies.
Allen Lazard is not a number one wideout, and it would leave the team with three receivers who are more like number twos. That is better than what they had at this point last year, but you wonder if the Chicago Bears want to swing higher. Even if they go with the draft there is more upside, and a much cheaper cost.
The positive to the team signing Lazard would be that he is a great fit. Lazard moves in and out of the slot, as do Claypool and Mooney. The Chicago Bears can shuffle all three in differing spots. Even better than that, he is a trusted blocker, and you know the team loves that. The high ceiling is not there, but the floor of a trusted wideout is there. Considering Claypool is the high ceiling, low floor bet, it is not a bad idea to add a safe option into the mix.
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If the price is right the Chicago Bears should consider it. The proposed offers may be high for what the team wants out of him, but if the offer got closer to $10M, or slightly below, it would be a nice fit.