NEWSLETTER
The Chicago Bears announced the signing of wide receiver Rueben Randle to a futures/reserve contract on Tuesday, adding a player with a high-round pedigree to the mix of pass catchers.
Randle, 25, was a New York Giants second-round pick in 2012, and played four years out wide for quarterback Eli Manning.
His best season came in 2014, when he caught 71 passes for 938 yards and three touchdowns. Randle (127 targets) was Manning’s second most targeted receiver behind Odell Beckham Jr. (130). Randle followed that season by catching eight touchdowns in 2015, but only picked up 797 yards on 57 catches.
It was the 2013 season in which Randle broke onto the scene by racking up 611 receiving yards and catching six touchdown passes. It was a step forward for the second-year player who was targeted only 32 times as a rookie in 2012.
The Philadelphia Eagles signed Randle to a one-year deal in March 2016, but was released in August when the team cut its roster from 90 to 75. Still, Randle is worth a close-up look for a Bears team looking to add depth to a group of receivers who battled injuries and poor play throughout the 2016 season.
Alshon Jeffery, the Bears’ most talented and accomplished receiver, is set to test free agency unless the team gives him the franchise tag for a second straight offseason. Rookie Kevin White, veteran Eddie Royal, and 2013 draft pick Marquess Wilson have battled various injuries the last few seasons and missed a significant amount of games and practice time. That leaves Cam Meredith (66 catches, 888 yards, four touchdowns) as the best of the returning receivers.
With this perspective, it’s easy to see why Randle – who is the 10th player to sign a futures/reserve contract with the Bears this offseason – is an interesting addition despite not playing a down during the 2016 regular season.
