The writing seems to be on the wall regarding what the Bears will do with the No. 1 overall pick. There are few analysts and insiders who don’t believe Chicago will draft quarterback Caleb Williams, but even if the Bears continue on with Justin Fields as their starter, they will need to add depth at wide receiver this offseason.
DJ Moore had a career year in his first season with the Bears, finishing with career highs in receiving yards (1,364), catches (96) and touchdowns (8). The Bears will be looking to pair him with a vertical threat downfield, and one who can potentially fill the void that will be left by Darnell Mooney if the team elects not to re-sign him. With Tyler Scott and Velus Jones Jr. the only other wideouts slated to be on the roster, it’s safe to call receiver a primary position of need for the Bears.
Here’s a look at the top wide receivers who could be available for Chicago when free agency hits
After four seasons with the Buffalo Bills, wide receiver Gabriel Davis is set to test the free agency waters. At 6’2” and 225 pounds, Davis would give the Bears a reliable big-bodied target to pair with DJ Moore. Davis isn’t a WR1 by any means, but he has skills that would compliment Moore well. He has experience lining up out wide (1,629 career snaps) and in the slot (443 career snaps), which fits what the Bears need on offense. In 2023, Davis finished with 45 receptions for 746 yards and 7 TDs in 17 games. His best season came in 2022, when he caught 48 passes for 836 yards and 7 touchdowns. He has averaged 42.7 yards per game over his career.
Davis is a smooth blend of talent, strength and durability. He has played in 64 games (47 starts) for the Bills over his four years with the team and has never missed more than two games in one season. He has also proven himself to be clutch in big matchups. Davis missed the playoffs after the 2023 season due to injury, but he made his mark in previous postseasons, hauling in six touchdowns in seven career playoff games. Spotrac has his market value projected at $13.6 million per season, which the Bears can afford.
The Arizona Cardinals aren’t likely going to place the franchise tag on wide receiver Marquise Brown, so he’s widely expected to be available. The No. 26 overall pick out of Oklahoma for the Baltimore Ravens in 2019, Brown was traded to the Arizona Cardinals for a first-round pick in 2021. It was a move requested by the wide receiver himself, as he says he wasn’t happy in Baltimore.
He landed in Arizona, where he was reunited with his college quarterback, Kyler Murray. After two so-so seasons with the Cards, he’ll likely be playing for his third team in 2024.
Brown has some definite upside. He turns 27 in June and like Darnell Mooney, has a 1,000-yard season under his belt. As with Mooney, that came in 2021, when he finished with 91 catches for 1,008 yards (11.1 yards per catch) and 6 TDs. Brown has found the end zone far more than Mooney has, though. While Mooney has 11 receiving scores in 60 career games, Brown has 28 touchdown receptions in 70 games.
Last season, Brown had the lowest catch percentage of his career (50.5%), hauling in 51 passes on 101 targets for 574 yards (11.3 yards per catch) and four touchdowns. To be fair, the Cardinals didn’t have their starting quarterback for eight games last season, as Murray was out with a knee injury. Brown should command somewhere between $14-$15 million per season. There are definitely better and more affordable options available this offseason, but he’s a solid option.