The Chicago Bears flirted with a Jay Cutler trade this offseason and the team now is focusing on free agency, as they have a number of needs to fill and names like Reggie Wayne, Michael Crabtree, Greg Jennings, Mason Foster and Brandon Spikes could be options in free agency and this comes as Amari Cooper, Kevin White and DeVante Parker are potential draft targets.
The team has needs at linebacker, wide receiver and at running back and with the free agent class thinning out, Ryan Pace could look at the draft for help. According to Michael C. Wright at ESPN Chicago, the Bears need to add "at least" one more receiver after trading Brandon Marshall and signing Eddie Royal, as they have Alshon Jeffery and Marquess Wilson as the main options on the roster.
The free agent class has some solid names like Reggie Wayne, Michael Crabtree, Greg Jennings and Wes Welker, but none of those players are as productive as Marshall. The team also has a need at linebacker and Pro Football Talk reports that Mason Foster is an option along with Brandon Spikes. The Bears and Foster have spoken about a deal, but so far nothing has gotten done.
Wayne is on his last legs and that may not be the way the Bears want to go, but if he is healthy he could be a solid number four receiver for depth. Jennings has some more in the tank and he is available after being released by the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings traded for Mike Wallace and that made Jennings expendable with his salary, while Crabtree is also on the market and could come cheap with the way things have developed for him.
According to Pro Football Talk, Crabtree has had a cold market so far and that means he may have to take a one year deal this offseason. That could play into things for the Bears, as he could be a cheap option with a high upside. Crabtree is just 27 years old and while he has been a disappointment mostly in San Francisco, he could be a solid fit for the Bears. Last season Crabtree had 68 catches for 698 yards and a few years ago he set career highs with 85 catches for 1105 yards and nine touchdowns.
The draft offers an opportunity for the Bears, as they have the number seven overall pick in the first round, which means they will get a top prospect. The wide receiver class for this draft is deep once again and players like Amari Cooper, Kevin White, DeVante Parker and Jaelen Strong are potential options in the first round for teams. The Bears could be in line to get Cooper or White depending on how things play out and they also could look to the later rounds to find some talent.
Wright mentioned a number of players that could be available in the mid to late rounds, including Dorial Green-Beckham, Nelson Agholor and Justin Hardy and those are some other names to watch for the Bears. In the draft, Cooper is considered to be one of the top receivers, while Kevin White is quickly moving up draft boards. White had 109 receptions, 1,447 yards and 10 touchdowns last season, while Cooper had 124 catches and 16 TDs with 1727 yards.
