The Chicago Bears are entering the offseason with a new regime in place. Ryan Poles is taking the place of Ryan Pace as general manager, while Matt Nagy is being replaced as head coach by Matt Eberflus.
They will work together on trying to upgrade a Bears roster that needs a bit of a rebuild with some aging veterans on the roster. However, the one spot they have youthfulness at is quarterback.
The team traded up to select Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Now, it is time to focus on his development. The easiest way to accomplish that is by upgrading the talent around him.
Chicago needs some help at wide receiver, as they have Darnell Mooney and very little else. Luckily for them, there will be some good options available this offseason. Here are three potential wide receivers the Bears can pursue this offseason.
3. Michael Gallup
Had Michael Gallup not tore his ACL in a Week 17 matchup with the Arizona Cardinals, he would likely be higher on this list. If the Bears can get a discount for him because of his injury, the team will be getting one of the biggest steals of the offseason.
Gallup is capable of winning one-on-one matchups, which is what Chicago needs to add to help Fields in the passing game. He is a physical presence and would be a nice player to deploy opposite of Mooney.
After spending his career behind Amari Cooper and now CeeDee Lamb in Dallas, Gallup would likely relish the chance to have an expanded role with a team and the Bears could provide him that opportunity.
2. Christian Kirk
Adding a playmaking, deep-ball threat to the mix for the Bears would go a long way for the offense. There isn’t anyone that fits that description much better than Christian Kirk, who is entering free agency off a career season.
Kirk caught 77 passes for 982 yards and five touchdowns. He stepped up for the team following DeAndre Hokpins’ injury and proved he can be a top target for a team. His versatility to line up as a deep threat from the slot or on the perimeter will make him a popular target in free agency.
The Arizona Cardinals with Kyler Murray are a great fit for Kirk, but a team such as the Bears could be able to snag him with a sizable contract and potential for a bigger role.
1. Amari Cooper
The Bears thought they had a true No. 1 wide receiver to pair with Mooney last season when they had Allen Robinson. Robinson played the 2021 season on the franchise tag but had a rough season.
He will likely move on from Chicago, leaving a need for a veteran pass-catcher. Should Amari Cooper find his way to free agency from the Dallas Cowboys, the Bears should aggressively pursue him.
Cooper failed to reach the 1,000-yard plateau in 2021 for only the second time in his career in 2021, but part of that can be attributed to a crowded pass-catching group. He did catch a carer-high tying eight touchdown receptions. With the Bears, he would assume the No. 1 role opposite of Mooney as a go-to option for Fields.
