In case we haven’t been clear, the Chicago Bears desperately need help at wide receiver. Full stop.
Because even if Cameron Meredith returns to full health and Kevin White can make it through a full 16-game season and be somewhat productive, the Bears’ receiving corps is short on talent and the group – as a whole – has a low floor to go along with a low ceiling.
But perhaps one big-name addition could change the fortunes of Mitch Trubisky and the Bears’ passing attack next season.
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk asks if Dez Bryant’s days with the Dallas Cowboys are numbered. On Thursday’s PFT Live, Charean Williams explains why the Cowboys might have a hard time ponying up a salary of $12.5 million with a cap number of $16.5 million in 2018.
Bryant hasn’t had a 1,000-yard receiving season since 2014 when he led the league with 16 touchdown receptions, earned first-team All-Pro honors, and was selected to the Pro Bowl. Things haven’t clicked for Bryant since, and his 53.3 receiving yards per game are his lowest since averaging 44.6 yards in an injury-shortened 2015 season when he played just nine games.
Things haven’t been the same since Dak Prescott took over. The second-year quarterback has a 97.3 passer rating in 28 career NFL starts, but that number dips to 85.9 when throwing to Bryant. In fact, Prescott has a 101.0 rating when he’s throwing to anyone but Bryant. Sure, Prescott posts a lofty 6.4 TD% when throwing to Bryant, but the INT% drops from 2.5% to 1.3% when throwing elsewhere.
It appears as if Dallas might have a big decision on its hands in the offseason.
If Bryant hits the market, he’ll be the biggest name and most accomplished receiver to hit free agency this winter. From a Bears perspective, he would be quite the target to reel in during the offseason. Adding an experienced big-play receiver and red zone threat to an offense that doesn’t have a proven contributor at either spot would be a boon for Mitch Trubisky’s development in Year 2.
Spotrac.com has a list of receivers who will be free agents at season’s end. The group features oft-rumored targets like Allen Robinson and Jarvis Landry, as well as familiar names such as Alshon Jeffery, Dontrelle Inman, Kendall Wright, and Davante Adams – who we inquired about back in Novmeber.
The 2017 season still has five weeks to go, but the offseason chatter is starting to heat up.