The Chicago Bears were bound to bring in some help at wide receiver, and it appears they have done that on Thursday.
The agency representing free agent receiver Marlon Brown tweeted that their client has agreed to terms with the Bears. Brown was part of the parade of free agents who were invited to the team’s minicamp on a tryout basis.
Brown turns 27 on April 22 and hasn’t sniffed the end zone since 2013, but was one of the more intriguing free agents remaining on a thin market. He broke out onto the scene as an undrafted rookie free agent with the Baltimore Ravens in 2013, starting 12 of the 14 games he played in. Brown scored a team-leading seven receiving touchdowns in a season in which he was targeted 82 times and hauled in 49 catches for 524 yards.
Unfortunately, Brown never took that next step in his development.
In 24 games since the start of the 2014 season, Brown has just 38 catches for 367 yards, and no touchdowns. Brown hasn’t been much of a factor since his rookie season. He was cut by the Ravens in May 2016, signed by the Broncos in July, but cut in August. Brown would re-sign with the Broncos in November 2016, but was placed on injured reserve a month later with a back injury. He did not play in 2017.
Brown checks in at 6-5 and 216 pounds, and gives the Bears another big-bodied pass-catcher who represents something resembling a buy-low, bounce-back candidate. He probably isn’t guaranteed a roster spot, but he joins fellow free agent Bennie Fowler in the mix of receivers who could be vying for playing time in 2018.