Getty The Bears could still get Justin Fields more help in the receiving department at the NFL trade deadline.
The Chicago Bears might have one of the worst receiving corps in the NFL, but general manager Ryan Poles could make a strong play at the November 1 trade deadline to change that for the immediate and long-term future.
The Bears could go after the Denver Broncos’ Jerry Jeudy, who could present a “unique opportunity,” according to Justin Melo of The Draft Network.
“Poles won’t be an aggressive buyer at the trade deadline as he continues rebuilding his Bears roster through upcoming drafts, but Jeudy represents a unique opportunity,” Melo wrote on October 24. “Jeudy is a 23-year-old receiver whose arrow continues to point up. Jeudy could be a part of the Bears’ ascension. Parting with draft capital in exchange for a proven commodity such as Jeudy could prove to be fruitful for the Bears.”
Jeudy could also create more opportunities for the Bears’ leading receiver, Darnell Mooney, who is averaging only 42 yards per game.
“Darnell Mooney hasn’t experienced the breakout campaign many believed he was destined for,” Meto wrote. “Mooney has been a victim of the Bears’ non-existent passing attack. Pairing Mooney with Jeudy would give the Bears the respectable one-two punch at receiver they currently lack.”
According to an October 23 tweet from Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Broncos have already received calls about the availability Jeudy as the trade deadline nears.
Jeudy, a first-round pick in 2020, hasn’t gotten off to the best start. He has only one game with more than four catches, against the New York Jets in Week 7, and has topped 100 yards receiving only once, on opening night against the Seahawks. He has two touchdowns. Jeudy caught 114 passes for 1,709 yards over his first 33 career games, and while injuries have given him a little bit of trouble, it is widely believed that he has not yet come close to his ceiling.
However, he could be an immediate spark plug for an offense willing to make him its centerpiece.
“He has flashed immense talent at times this season,” wrote NBC Sports Chicago’s Josh Schrock on October 24. “A change of scenery could do him good. … Jeudy would give them a precise route-runner with big-play ability who fits their rebuilding timeline at age 23.”
Bears Not Looking for a Short-Term Fix
The Bears (3-4) have been the NFL’s worst passing offense — by just about every metric — through the first seven games the season. Though their solid 7.7 yards per pass is good for ninth in the league, they have thrown 14 fewer passes (136) than the next highest teams (Tennessee Titans and Atlanta Falcons at 150 each) and have a league-low 884 passing yards, partly because their inexperienced receivers have struggled to get open.
The Bears are in a tough spot with how they chose to construct their roster. They have gone all-in on their extensive rebuild and don’t want to give away valuable future assets to make a short-term fix, but the flaw with that plan is how it impacts quarterback Justin Fields and his development. Without proper receiving weapons and frontline protection, it is hard for the Bears to properly assess the quality of talent they have in the former No. 11 overall pick.
“The plan is straightforward and simple,” wrote the Chicago Sun-Times’ Jason Leiser in May. “A full teardown now regardless of what it means for the Bears’ record this season, construction begins in 2023 with ample draft picks and salary-cap space, then contention in 2024 — all with the assumption that Justin Fields grows into a franchise quarterback. Poles will be held accountable if the team appears to be behind schedule at any point.”
Other Possible WR Trade Options for the Bears?
Rapoport also mentioned that teams have called the Houston Texans about Brandin Cooks and the Pittsburgh Steelers about Chase Claypool in recent weeks. Cooks — who has been traded a few times before — has previously said he would not accept another trade because “if you don’t want me, you’re going to have to let me walk,” so it would come down to how he feels about playing in Chicago more than anything. As for Claypool, Rapoport added that he is “not expected” to be dealt at this point.
Another name for the Bears to check in on is Michael Pittman Jr. The 2020 second-round pick has started to bloom into a reliable No. 1 receiver for the Indianapolis Colts this season despite numerous other faults in their offense, eclipsing 1,000 receiving yards in 2021 and getting off to an even better pace through seven games of 2022. While that might not sound like a piece a team would want to trade away, the Colts just benched veteran quarterback Matt Ryan in favor of 2021 sixth-rounder Sam Ehlinger and could soon be turning an eye to 2023 — when Pittman will be in the final year of his rookie contract — for a fresh rebuild.
If the Colts are looking at another rebuild and want to stockpile assets to make another move at quarterback, Pittman could be the most valuable trade chip they have. Moving him would also make sense if they’ve assessed the rising receiver market and decided that Pittman will want too much money on his second NFL contract, which wouldn’t be as much of a problem for a flush-with-cash Bears team.