5 wide receivers the Bears need for 2023 to not waste Justin Fields any longer
By Scott Rogust
The Chicago Bears need to prioritize adding some wide receivers this offseason to help out quarterback Justin Fields. Here are five they should target.
The Chicago Bears, by record, are the second-worst team in football as of Week 16. But they have one huge bright spot on the roster. Of course, that’s quarterback Justin Fields.
In his second year with the Bears, Fields has shown the makings of becoming one of the NFL’s biggest superstars. He has the ability to make plays with his arm and his leg, the latter of which with tremendous speed.
The one thing that’s holding Fields back is that the team doesn’t have the deepest wide receiver depth chart. That can all change, as general manager Ryan Poles will have a ridiculous $120 million in cap space heading into the 2023 league year. That will allow Poles to bring in as many pass-catchers as possible to help Fields out, and turn their offense into one of the best in the league.
But who should they target? Well, they have free agency, the trading block, and the NFL Draft to find options. Here are five wide receivers they can target this offseason.
Note: these aren’t ranked in any particular order.
5 wide receivers the Bears need for 2023 to not waste Justin Fields any longer, No. 5: Brandin Cooks, Houston Texans
When it comes to the trading block, one name really sticks out, and that’s Houston Texans wide receiver Brandin Cooks. He was one of the big names mentioned at this season’s trade deadline, but the Texans opted to keep him for the remainder of the year.
Cooks has shown the ability to put up solid numbers, even with less-than-stellar quarterback play. In 2021, with Davis Mills and Tyrod Taylor as his quarterbacks, Cooks recorded 90 receptions for 1,037 yards and six touchdowns in 16 games played.
After Week 16 of this season, Cooks recorded 48 receptions for 552 yards and two touchdowns on 80 targets in 11 games.
Cooks is under contract for the next two seasons, where he’ll make $39.76 million. The Bears should give the Texans a call to see what it would take to acquire Cooks, who would be a fantastic top pass-catching option for Fields.