The Chicago Bears have the number one pick in the NFL Draft and the most cap space to work with than any other team in the NFL. This is a great position for the team to be in despite having the league’s worst record in 2022. The Bears have a great many needs in order to rebuild, and among them is improving at wide receiver. Chase Claypool was a sever disappointment after Chicago traded for him, tallying just 14 receptions for 140 yards in seven games. Justin Fields deserves a competent wide receiver room, so exploring multiple free agent wide receivers would be a wise move.
Free Agent Wide Receiver #1: Allen Lazard
The Bears know Allen Lazard all too well. The Green Bay Packers leading wide receiver in 2022 is now an unrestricted free agent. His comments following the Packers’ loss to the Detroit Lions seemed to indicate that he will not be returning to Green Bay next season. If this is, indeed, the case, the Bears should be interested in Lazard for several reasons.
First, Lazard is a reliable wide receiver. While he never put up flashy numbers in Green Bay, he did lead the Packers with 60 receptions and 788 yards. These totals would have led the Bears this past season. Lazard also had five touchdown receptions in 2022, but had eight in 2021. In other words, he knows how to find the end zone.
Secondly, Lazard is among the best downfield blockers in the NFL. On Christmas Day, he blocked three Miami Dolphin defenders to the ground on one play. With Justin Fields as a very mobile quarterback, having a wide receiver who can block as well as Lazard does would be a huge benefit to the offense.
Free Agent Wide Receiver #2: Darius Slayton
Like Lazard, Darius Slayton is an intriguing wide receiver who performed better than all other Bears wide receivers in 2022. He finished the season with 46 receptions, 724 yards, and two touchdowns. His 46 receptions would have ranked second on the team while his 724 would have ranked first.
In the playoffs, Slayton recorded four receptions for 88 yards in the Giants’ win over the Minnesota Vikings. He was all but shut down by the Philadelphia defense, however, recording just one reception for four yards in the loss.
Like Lazard, blocking is an aspect of the game in which Slayton takes great pride. In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Slayton said:
“Our backs, I want them to do well. So, at the end of the day, receiver blocks are often seen as insignificant. But a lot of times, that’s the block that makes it a touchdown instead of a 10-yard gain.”
Many times in 2022, the Bears were just not physical enough to compete on offense. Having a wide receiver like Slayton blocking for the running backs or Fields could make a huge difference.
Free Agent Wide Receiver #3: Juju Smith-Schuster
Perhaps the biggest name on the free agent market this offseason will be Juju Smith-Schuster. The former Pro Bowl wide receiver finished the 2022 campaign with 78 receptions, 933 yards, and three touchdowns. A reliable target, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes had a 102.5 passer rating when targeting Smith-Schuster.
The Chiefs finished the season with the AFC’s best record, so Smith-Schuster has only played in one playoff game this year. In the Chiefs’ 27-20 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars, he caught both passes thrown his way for 29 yards.
Like the other two wide receivers on this list, Smith-Schuster is well-known for his blocking abilities. He is a very physical blocker and would be a major asset to the Bears’ offense in more ways than one.
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