The Chicago Bears will be tweaking the wide receiver position this offseason but not as much as some people think. Gone will be last year’s big free agent pickup, Keenan Allen, who was not as productive on a team that struggled to throw the ball well. The torch will pass, fully, to DJ Moore and Rome Odunze as they try to bring the Bears’ passing game out of the doldrums and into the modern era.
There are a handful of other receivers on the Bears right now. Currently, on the roster, there is four-year man Collin Johnson, two-year player Tyler Scott, one-year player Maurice Alexander, rookie John Jackson, three-year guy Samori Toure, seven-year vet DeAndre Carter, and four-year player Nsimba Webster. Allen is still on the roster but, as mentioned, he’s likely on his way out this offseason.
Bears WR Room in Flux Does Not Need Cooper Kupp
Bears Should Say No to Cooper Kupp Trade
There isn’t a big-name guy among those names after Moore and Odunze. That’s got to be scary. The Bears need wide receiver help, it’s true. What they don’t need is someone with an injury history who is 31 years old. They don’t need to waste their draft capital or give up another player or more to get Los Angeles Rams wide receiver, Cooper Kupp.
They should stay right where they are and go for youth with some guys who aren’t injured and are ready to contribute.
Kupp has missed a total of 26 games with a variety of injuries over the years. He’s suffered knee injuries along with ankle injuries. Those take their toll, especially for a player at his position. Just how much he has left in the tank remains to be seen. Sure, he likely has a little something left, but the Bears cannot fall into a trap and trade for this guy who might have a year or two left before he puts in his retirement papers.
A youth movement is something that the Bears need to be going on. They need this not only to win now but to also keep winning for seasons to come. We want the Bears to eventually end up like the Kansas City Chiefs and be a Super Bowl contender every year. To do that, youth and good talent are needed.
The Bears need to look at younger players.
Kupp is a great football player but his time in the league is coming to an end. The Bears should not, they cannot waste the draft or player capital on Kupp. It just wouldn’t be worth it.
What to Do Instead
What the Bears need to do is look at free agency for some help at wide receiver. Staying away from the older guys like Kupp, the Bears could look at someone coming out of their first contract. Perhaps there is a guy who interests them who is still young, injury-free, and a solid performer. There is a place in the wide receiver room for someone like that.
There will be time to analyze the list of free-agent wide receivers soon. What we need the Bears to do now is sit on their hands and not pull the trigger for Kupp. They need to see who else is out there and take a chance that way. This is instead of taking a chance on a player who is aging and often injured.
Main Photo: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The post Why the Bears Do Not Need to Trade for Rams WR Cooper Kupp appeared first on Last Word on Pro Football.