Ranking best free agent wide receivers for Chicago Bears to sign this offseason
The Chicago Bears need to sign a wide receiver. Even if they draft one, the team was already thin in that area, and names such as Darnell Mooney and Equanimeous St. Brown are expected to walk in free agency.
Which wide receivers should the Chicago Bears target in NFL free agency this offseason?
The unrealistic option
- Calvin Ridley
While Calvin Ridley would be a fun addition, it is hard to see him being added. First, his salary would have to be competitive with D.J. Moore, and that is a lot to invest into two receivers, with neither of them being in the elite tier.
Beyond that, Ridley will want to sign somewhere where he is the number one option, not 1B, or most likely number two.
The Big-play hitters
- Marquise Brown
- Gabriel Davis
- Curtis Samuel
These are the big play threats who can get down the field. Putting them across from D.J. Moore opens space for him underneath to work yards after the catch. In the case of Samuel, it would be a reunion of two former Carolina Panthers players. Still, he brings the most injury questions.
Brown is coming off of the worst year of his career and may need to reset with a new team before finding a better market next year. Davis is likely the safest of these three, but also may not have the ceiling that either of the other two do, and he may make the most of these three.
Slot Options
- Tyler Boyd
- Michael Thomas
- KJ Osborn
The Chicago Bears are losing Darnell Mooney out of the slot. Tyler Boyd and Michael Thomas would be a completely different style out of that area compared to last year. They are more possession players, but both could be reliable for a rookie. Of course, injuries have made Thomas a huge question. Osborn would be similar to Mooney with a change of scenery.
Upgrades from Equanimeous St. Brown
- Kendrick Bourne
- Noah Brown
- Josh Reynolds
- Mack Hollins
The Chicago Bears need a blocking type of receiver who can do the dirty work. He can make the tough catches and run the routes that some do not want to run. All four of the options can serve the role that St. Brown brought value to, but all four are actually going to produce at times, unlike St. Brown. They should really sign one of these four, even if they sign one of the top seven first.
Cheap chances at big play upside
- Odell Beckham Jr.
- DJ Chark
- Marquez Valdes-Scantling
- Donovan Peoples-Jones
These players have potential in the right scheme and situation. In streaks of three games here and there, they are game-changers. The inconsistency is why the Chicago Bears should only sign these names if they miss the top seven names.
Return Game Options
- Isaiah McKenzie
- Braxton Berrios
- Richie James
- Ray Ray McCloud
- Devin Duvernay
If the Chicago Bears lose Trent Taylor and do not trust Velus Jones anymore, then they have to sign one of these options as well. Most of them could replace both Taylor and Jones, allowing them to sign multiple free-agent receivers.
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