Alshon Jeffery isn’t the only wide receiver looking to make good on a one-year prove it contract. In fact, the Chicago Bears will attempt to replace Jeffery’s production with a player on a similar contract.
#Bears agreed to terms on a one-year deal worth up to $4m with WR Kendall Wright, source said.
— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) March 12, 2017
Kendall Wright was a first-round pick (20th overall) of the Tennessee Titans in 2012 after a productive college career at Baylor. Wright wrapped up his time on campus with a superb season, catching 108 passes for 1,663 yards and 14 touchdowns. Unfortunately, Wright hasn’t completely recreated that kind of success in the NFL. He caught 94 passes for 1,079 yards in his second season, and seemed destined for stardom – but has caught 122 passes in three seasons since.
Wright’s targets have been on the decline in each of the last three seasons, dropping from 139 in 2013, to 93 in 2014, 60 in 2015, and 42 in 2016. A knee injury suffered in 2015 put a damper on Wright’s season, in which he made 36 catches for 408 yards and and three touchdowns in just 10 games. He didn’t click with former first-round pick Marcus Mariota, who posted an 84.8 passer rating when throwing to Wright in his two professional seasons. Things didn’t get off to a strong start in Mariota’s rookie season, where his passer rating when targeting Wright was 69.8.
In 2016, Wright ranked as Pro Football Focus’ 52nd best receiver with a 74.6 grade.
It’s evident that Wright was looking forward to a change of scenery, and it looks like he will get that by signing in Chicago. Wright told the Titans official website that he didn’t see himself as part of the Titans future in 2017. If he can find what made him a successful early in his career, he could be a playmaker for new quarterback Mike Glennon.
