The Chicago Bears are looking to enhance their wide receiver corps as they evaluate their options for the upcoming season. With D.J. Moore providing a significant boost to their receiving options, the Bears are now exploring avenues to add one or two impact receivers to complement Moore and provide support for quarterback Justin Fields.
Despite Moore's hefty salary of $20.165 million, the Bears still have room to maneuver within their salary cap. In fact, they ranked eighth in wide receiver spending last season and have sufficient cap space to make moves in free agency. This presents a favorable opportunity for the team to bring in talented receivers to bolster their offensive firepower.
One player who might not be returning to the Bears is Darnell Mooney. His production has seen a decline in recent years, and with a market value of $40 million over four years, it seems unlikely that the Bears will prioritize re-signing him. As it stands, the Bears only have four wide receivers under contract, amounting to a total of $19.66 million. However, Moore's salary cap hit decreases to $16.05 million over the remaining two years of his contract.
Currently projected to have the eighth most cap space in the NFL, the Bears are in a favorable position to pursue additions at the wide receiver position. This figure is expected to grow even further once the official 2024 cap number is set. General Manager Ryan Poles could potentially gain an additional $21.7 million in cap space by releasing or restructuring the contracts of veterans Cody Whitehair and Eddie Jackson.
In the event that Fields is traded, Poles has the option to request a wide receiver as part of the deal. Potential targets could include Denver's Jerry Jeudy or Las Vegas' Jakobi Meyers. However, free agency might provide a cleaner and more straightforward route to acquire experienced receivers. Currently, the Bears only have Velus Jones, Tyler Scott, and Nsimba Webster, aside from Moore, on their wide receiver depth chart.
The top end of the free agent market features enticing options such as Mike Evans, Calvin Ridley, and Tee Higgins. However, their price tags, averaging $19.8 million per year for four to five seasons, might exceed Poles' budget. On the other hand, there are viable lower-tier options available, including Tyler Boyd, Noah Brown, Josh Reynolds, K.J. Osborn, Kendrick Bourne, DJ Chark, and Odell Beckham Jr.
If Poles and his scouting team decide to draft a wide receiver with their No. 9 pick, there are several intriguing prospects to consider. Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr. is widely regarded as a top-five pick, while Washington's Rome Odunze and LSU's Malik Nabers are also likely to be selected within the top 10 picks. Pro Football Focus has assigned first-round value to six wide receivers and considers seven more as second-round prospects. In fact, 22 of PFF's top 100 draft prospects are wide receivers, indicating the depth and talent available at the position in this year's draft class.
In conclusion, the Chicago Bears are poised to strengthen their wide receiver group in the coming months. Whether through free agency or the draft, General Manager Ryan Poles has the opportunity to add impactful receivers to complement D.J. Moore and maximize the potential of quarterback Justin Fields. With favorable cap space and a range of options available, the Bears' receiving corps could soon undergo a significant transformation, providing a boost to their offensive capabilities.
