Bears Could Use Tee Higgins or Other Targets

The Bears have their offensive mastermind for 2024 in Shane Waldron.

In a matter of a few months, they'll decide which quarterback will execute his plan.

However, Waldron comes to Chicago after he was coaching an offense in Seattle with wide receivers DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett and rookie Jaxon Smith-Njigba. They had seven palyers in all who had 22 targets or more, with Lockett getting 122, Metcalf 119 and Smiih-Njigba 93.

The Bears had six players targeted at least 31 times, but they only had one with more than 90 targets and Seattle had three.

Translated, they need weapons for their new play caller because the goal is the chunk plays, big gainers.

"You have to be able to have the innovation to really look at the players that you have and be able to help enhance and put those guys in position to succeed and to get explosives and to move the ball down the field," Bears coach Matt Eberflus said.

The coordinator and QB, whether it's Justin Fields or Caleb Williams, will need help besides DJ Moore. The Bears wide receiver group failed badly last year. No one had more than 31 catches except Moore with 96.

The Bears traded to get Moore. They haven't been so successful when it comes to drafting receivers. Velus Jones Jr. is a kick returner, Tyler Scott shows some promise but didn't even make it to 20 rookie receptions. Darnell Mooney is a free agent and coming off his worst season with 31 catches.

The problem with using free agency for receivers is it's a premium pay position.

Quarterbacks, pass rushers, cornerbacks and wide receivers usually go for the most money. Offensive tackles and defensive tackles do, as well, but good luck trying to find one of those in free agency who actually has talent and isn't 38 years old. If the Bears pay cornerback Jaylon Johnson to stay, it's going to eat up their cap space quickly. They're projected by Overthecap.com to be at $36 million but can get back close to $60 million with cap cuts.

Signing a free agent wide receiver might cost the Bears $15 million to $20 million if they want someone of quality. It's possible costs could be driven a bit lower because the free agent market could be so abundant.

There also is a large influx of receiver talent coming from college in this draft.

Here's who could be available at this position in free agency if they don't want to wait on drafted players to develop and are willing to throw cash at the problem.

Mike Evans, Tampa Bay: Spotrac.com has him getting $23.8 million a year while Pro Football Focus projects $23 million a year, and his productivity says he's worth every penny. He's had 10 years over 1,000 yards and 94 career TDs. The 6-5, 231-pounder is going to be 30 but had more receptions in 2023 than any time in his career since 2018. He's never had less than 67 receptions in a season.

Tee Higgins, Cincinnati: Spotrac sees him getting $18.6 million but PFF says $21.66 million. He's graded the fourth-best free agent overall this year by PFF. The 6-4, 219-pounder displays great athleticism and speed in his work, had a down year with 42 receptions but was able to play only 12 games due to injuries. He has 257 receptions in four years for 3,684 yards, 24 TDs and has gone over 1,000 yards twice.

Calvin Ridley, Jacksonville: After his gambling suspension, Ridley started to round back into the form he had prior to 2021 as he made 76 catches for 1,016 yards and is ranked the 24th best free agent overall by PFF. The 6-1, 190-pounder is projected by PFF at $16.25 million and $17 million a year by Spotrac.com.

Tyler Boyd, Cincinnati: Quietly while Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase create headlines, the 6-2, 203-pound Boyd produces good numbers and he's the 74th-ranked overall free agent according to PFF. He's 29, and averaged 72 receptions over the last six years with 28 career TDs and in the last six years has made 667 catches for 1,046 yards. PFF says he'll get $8.75 million a year and Spotrac $8.7 million.

Marquise Brown, Arizona: The 27-year-old former Ravens speed demon is 5-9, 180 and a classic Z-receiver type. He has 3,644 yards on 313 receptions for 28 TDs. PFF labels him the 17th best free agent overall and projects he'll get $12 million a year while Spotrac.com says $14.8 million.

My thoughts on the Waldron hire:

Personally I think it would be very difficult to attract the top OC telling him they’re keeping Justin Fields and pass up on Caleb.

Drafting a new QB guarantees Waldron a few years + he wants to be HC. If fields doesn’t pan out, he’s toast
— Austin (@BadTakeFuges) January 22, 2024

Gabe Davis, Buffalo: The 63rd-ranked free agent overall by PFF has 163 catches for 2,730 yards and has especially been dangerous in the red zone with 27 TD receptions in his four seasons. Davis will be 25 years old by the 2024 season, is 6-2, 225 and Spotrac.com says he'll get $13.5 million a year while PFF says $12 million a year.

Curtis Samuel, Washington: DJ Moore's former Panthers teammate and good friend is 5-11, 195 and could be an ideal slot receiver for the Bears. He made 64 and 62 catches the last two seasons for 1,2697 yards and eight TDs and at age 27 in 2024 he is projected to be worth $11.5 million a year by Spotrac and $9 million by PFF.

Josh Reynolds, Detroit: The 29-year-old former Rams player rarely puts up big numbers but makes key receptions for the Lions. His average of 15.2 yards a catch this season was his best since 2019. PFF calls the 6-3, 194-pounder the 116th best free agent this year. He is projected at $5.25 million a year by PFF.

Odell Beckham Jr., Baltimore: He'll be 31 next season and has slowed down a great deal this year. But he did averaged 16.1 yards a catch, the most of his nine-year career. He also had three TD catches and had 565 yards receiving. PFF sticks with him and says he's still the 69th best free agent and sees him at 10 million per year. Spotrac.com says $11.9 million a year.

DJ Chark, Carolina: At the age of 27, Chark hasn't done a lot the since 2019. His career highs were 73 catches in 2019 and 53 in 2020 but he hasn't been close to it since then and had 35 catches this year. PFF says the 6-3, 220-pounder will get $7.75 million and Spotrac.com $10.9 million. He's been with three teams in three years.

K.J. Osborn, Minnesota: The 27-year-old third and fourth receiver for theh Vikings is labeled the 142nd best free agent by PFF and projected at $5 million a year, while Spotrac.com says $7.5 million a year. He has made 50, 60 and 48 catches for 1,845 yards with 15 TDs in three seasons.

Michael Thomas, New Orleans: He'll be 31 next season and hasn't been a factor in years after being plagued by injuries. He had 39 catches in 10 games this season for 448 yards. He hasn't played more than 10 games or made more than 40 receptions since 2019. Still, Spotrac puts his market value at $9.2 million based on his past performance, and it was a long time ago.

Kendrick Bourne, New England: An underrated player who has contributed well for the Patriots and 49ers in seven seasons. He has 264 receptions for 3,409 yards and in the last three seasons has 127 receptions for 1,640 yards with the Patriots. He's labeled 87th best free agent by PFF and is projected at $7 million a year.

Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Tennessee: A possible steal for some team at $2.5 million a year according to PFF, he hasn't been used greatly by the Titans but has had 91 receptions for the last three years and 10 TD catches. PFF calls him the 134th-best free agent and says he'll get $2.75 million a year.

If Shane Waldron turned Geno Smith into a 4,000 there’s no doubt that he will elevate Fields game to the level needs be if they keep him. Geno Smith was about to be out of the league and he turned his career around. Fields ceiling way higher than Geno Smith.
— Corey Wootton (@CoreyWootton) January 23, 2024

Twitter: BearDigest@BearsOnMaven