The Chicago Bears have been busy to start free agency. Two trades for guards Jonah Jackson and Joe Thuney followed by aggressive moves for center Drew Dalman, defensive end Dayo Odenyingbo, and defensive tackle Grady Jarrett. Head coach Ben Johnson said the aim was to win now, and the team’s actions reflect that. The rebuild is over. It is time to win some games. With the trenches addressed, some wonder what GM Ryan Poles has planned next. The work isn’t finished. Other areas of the roster could use some work.
One of them is wide receiver. While D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze offer a strong tandem moving forward, there is a belief inside the organization that they should do something about that third spot. According to a source, the Bears are interested in three prominent names on the veteran market. One is Brandin Cooks, the well-traveled speedster who has six 1,000-yard seasons in his career. Another is Tyler Lockett, the former three-time All-Pro from the Seattle Seahawks.
Last and most notable is five-time Pro Bowler Amari Cooper. The source says Chicago is most interested in him.
The Chicago Bears are hoping to take advantage of a loaded market.
There might not be any star receivers available in their prime years, but there is no shortage of big names. Don’t forget that Keenan Allen, Robert Woods, Stefon Diggs, Mike Williams, and Tyler Boyd are still available. Cooper turns 31 in June. He is fresh off helping the Buffalo Bills reach the NFC championship last season, though he wasn’t as big of a contributor as he would’ve liked. He is certain to have interest elsewhere. Joining Johnson in Chicago to play with Caleb Williams may seem appealing to him. Of course, it all comes down to money. The Bears may hope to land one of them at a reasonable price. Cooper can’t expect anywhere close to the $20 million per year he’s made over the past few seasons.
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Don’t be surprised if the team also tries to bring back Allen. There is a chance his market may not materialize as hoped. He and Williams developed clear chemistry towards the end of last season. If Cooper or one of the other targets prove out of reach, the Chicago Bears could pivot back to him.
