The Chicago Bears wide receiver position is in store for a massive overhaul once the 2017 season is concluded. That’s not a prediction. It’s a fact. Not only is it the least talented group on the entire roster, it also is the most tenuous in the long-term. No fewer than five of its current members have expiring contracts. That includes Cameron Meredith and recent acquisition Dontrelle Inman.
This doesn’t even consider the possibility they might cut Kevin White. That’s unlikely since the Bears wouldn’t get any salary cap relief for the move, but there’s the possibility nonetheless. There is also the possibility that GM Ryan Pace may look to bring certain players back on new deals. Meredith, Inman and Kendall Wright seem like the strongest possibilities.
On the other hand this represents a big opportunity for Pace to set his young quarterback Mitch Trubisky up for years to come. Provided he plays his cards right of course. The question becomes how does he go about it?
Chicago Bears wide receiver rebuild can follow four main paths
Looking back over NFL history during the Super Bowl era, teams have had success rebuilding their receiving corps a number of different ways. That being said there are four primary avenues that Pace can take next spring. It comes down to how the market sets up. Here they are in no particular order.
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2017 Philadelphia Eagles: Free Agency and the Draft
- Signed Torrey Smith
- Signed Alshon Jeffery
- Drafted Mack Hollins in the fourth round
Pace really does share a lot in common with Eagles GM Howie Roseman. Both aren’t afraid to make bold moves if there’s a player they covet. Both also like to use the draft and free agency in tandem to solve key roster issues. This past offseason offers the perfect example. Roseman made two big signings on the free agent market with Smith and Jeffery, then supplement that with a developmental draft pick. All three have made big contributions to the breakout year Carson Wentz is currently enjoying.
2007 New England Patriots: Trade and Free Agency
- Second and seventh round picks to Dolphins for Wes Welker
- Fourth round pick to Raiders for Randy Moss
- Signed Donte Stallworth
This was the offseason that came so close to producing the second-ever undefeated season in NFL history. Tom Brady was solid in 2006 but had trouble in the AFC championship late due to talent limitations at wide receivers. Ever the aggressors, New England crafted a masterpiece of heists as they dealt for Welker and Moss while also signing Stallworth in the space of a month. That same season Brady broke the NFL record for touchdown passes with 50. Moss had 23 of those and Welker had over 100 catches.
1991 Detroit Lions: Trade and the Draft
- Fifth round pick to Saints for Brett Perriman
- Drafted Herman Moore in the first round
The greatest season in terms of playoff success the Lions have had in the Super Bowl era came in 1991. It was spurred by their desire to get a viable passing attack to help ease the pressure on star running back Barry Sanders. One could say they pulled it off. Perriman and Moore weren’t huge producers that year but their looming threats did the job for Sanders. He went from 1,300 yards and 13 touchdowns in 1990 to 1,500 yards and 16 touchdowns that season. Detroit went to the NFC championship. Moore would end up in four Pro Bowls and Perriman had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in seasons that followed.
1974 Pittsburgh Steelers: The Draft
- Drafted Lynn Swann in the first round
- Drafted John Stallworth in the fourth round
Last but not least is the old school way. At one point in time the draft was the only place for teams to truly improve themselves outside of trades. Few perfected this better than the Pittsburgh Steelers. Their 1974 draft still reigns as the greatest of all-time, and at the heart of it was their brilliant manipulation of the wide receiver position. Though they coveted Stallworth most, it was felt his small school background would cause him to drop. So they drafted Swann first and grabbed him later on. The two helped turn Terry Bradshaw into a star and the Steelers to win four Super Bowls over the next six years.
