Right now, the Chicago Bears seem to be at a crossroads. They can either give up on struggling third-year quarterback Justin Fields, or they can make one more attempt to ignite the potential many have believed lies within him.
If they choose the latter route, they will have to supply Fields with more reliable playmakers at the wide receiver position so that he can build his confidence, pick up his production and experience his passes connecting with the hands of his teammates.
Chicago traded the No. 1 pick in April’s draft to the Carolina Panthers and received stud wideout D.J. Moore in return. While Moore is putting up strong numbers this season (793 yards and five touchdowns through 10 games), the team doesn’t really have a reliable WR2 next to him.
It was hoping that Chase Claypool, whom it traded for last season, would fill that role, but he was a big disappointment, which prompted it to deal him to the Miami Dolphins in early October.
NFL News & Rumors: Kenny Golladay, Chicago Bears Updates
Matt Holder of Bleacher Report thinks the Bears should therefore take a flyer on wideout Kenny Golladay.
“The Bears were hoping Chase Claypool could be their contested-catch receiver, but that didn’t work out,” wrote Holder. “They could still use someone who can fill that role, and coming down with 50/50 balls was Golladay’s calling card in Detroit.
“While his time in New York was an utter disaster, Chicago doesn’t have much to lose at this point and could use the next seven weeks as an extended tryout for the wideout to see if he’s worth keeping around for the future.”
Golladay, a third-round draft pick in 2017, blossomed in his second season by registering 1,063 receiving yards on 70 catches as a member of the Detroit Lions. The following season, his 1,190 yards and league-leading 11 touchdown receptions earned him a spot in the Pro Bowl.
But injuries have robbed him of at least some of his ability, and after mustering only 81 yards in 12 games with the New York Giants in 2022, he hasn’t had a team this season.
With a 3-7 record, it’s an open question as to whether the Bears would be better off trying to win games and build something positive for next season or tanking to give themselves a shot at drafting Caleb Williams.
It should be mentioned that the trade that brought Moore to Chicago also brought the team the Panthers’ first-round pick in the 2024 draft. The Panthers currently have the worst record in the NFL, so perhaps Chicago won’t need to tank if it wants to replace Fields with Williams.
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