Bears favorite to land superstar receiver when/if he is released.
The Chicago Bears need to ameliorate their roster, that's not a matter of question. The team is depleted in many areas and requires a massive overhaul. There isn't a perfect way to rebuild a roster, but Ryan Poles has stripped this thing down to the studs and now it's time to rebuild it properly. Fortunately, the team has a few core players that give them the building blocks required to turn this thing around - Justin Fields being the main piece. With the most salary cap space available and the first pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Ryan Poles has abundant resources at his disposal. Hence, the team should have no trouble upgrading the 2022 roster. The queries will be, can Justin Fields take the next stride? Will Ryan Poles be able to provide Fields the weapons needed to succeed? Will the team look to the draft and/or free agency to rebuild the trenches? What about the wide receiver position? Will Chase Claypool and Darnell Mooney be adequate, or will Poles seek to add more help at the position?
We have seen a plethora of discussion about the Chicago Bears making a trade for a prospective top WR. We have also seen mock drafts that have the Bears trading down twice and eyeing a wide receiver in the middle of the first round. Alternatively, the team looks at the position on Day 2 or Day 3. Free agency doesn't appear promising for the position, but there are options. There are also cap casualties that will occur. Keenan Allen, a potential cap casualty for the Los Angeles Chargers who could become a free agent, is one of the options.
When analyzing what Justin Fields requires this offseason, a wide receiver must be towards the top of that list. The team necessitates a genuine WR1 on the roster to help Fields advance into the same class we have witnessed Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts, and Tua Tagovailoa jump into when they were given the weapons essential to succeed. Despite being 31 years old when the 2023 regular season commences, Keenan Allen can be that guy for Justin Fields. What distinguishes him from the present roster is his aptitude to separate. Something Justin Fields has encountered difficulty with is throwing his receivers open or his anticipatory throws. I am surmising here, but my speculation is that it has to do with receivers in the NFL not being as "open" compared to what he saw with his receivers at Ohio State. Allen has demonstrated he's one of the best.
Darnell Mooney is, in fact, proficient at separating as well. Between these two, Fields should have no pretext not to find an open receiver each play. Chase Claypool isn't as adept at separating, but all of them are better than what Justin Fields was accustomed to in his rookie season with Allen Robinson. I'll be frank, I think having Robinson on the roster indeed impeded Fields' growth in this area. Robinson's separation statistics are always towards the bottom of the league each season.
With a player like Keenan Allen, Fields would have an authentic No. 1 receiver to match with two of the best WR2s in the league. Over his career, Allen initiated on the outside but moved to more of a slot receiver in year five. Since then, he's lined up in the slot for a minimum of 49.2%. Over the last few years, he's lined up in the slot over 60% of the time.
It's almost guaranteed that he will miss time, but if the team can get 12 games out of him in 2023 and another 12 in 2024, it would make for a good investment. I don't anticipate him getting more than a three-year deal with an out in the second year of the contract. This enables the team to secure Allen in for 2024 while deciding on Darnell Mooney and Chase Claypool - both moving into contract years this year. It's plausible they keep one, both, or none of them beyond this upcoming season while recognizing Allen will be here for at least one year beyond.
Essentially, Keenan Allen makes for an excellent complement to the current WR corps.
| POLL | ||
20 FEVRIER | 166 ANSWERS Bears favorite to land superstar receiver when/if he is released. Should Keenan Allen be the primary target for the Bears if he is cut? | ||
| Yes | 104 | 62.7 % |
| No | 62 | 37.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
