The Chicago Bears have been suffering through a rough 2021 NFL season thus far. Even though there are plenty of reasons to be excited about the future, including rookie quarterback Justin Fields, the games played this year have been brutal.
Following Week 12, the Bears are just 4-7 and the direction they will head in the future is relatively unknown.
All that is known is that the Bears love what they have under center in Fields. He has shown flashes of being a very good quarterback, but he has a lot of work to do in the coming years. However, he has shown that he is capable of being labeled the team's “franchise quarterback” for now.
Looking forward to the offseason, the Bears and general manager Ryan Pace will have their work cut out for them. A coaching change seems likely to be on the horizon in the near future and Chicago will have a decision to make with star wide receiver Allen Robinson II. Robinson departing town seems likely at this point, which would leave the Windy City franchise with a major need at the wide receiver position.
However, there is a player that they should already be targeting that is set to hit the free agency market this offseason. That player would be Green Bay Packers superstar wide receiver Davante Adams. He had tried to get a new contract done with Green Bay in the offseason, but the two sides remained very far apart in those discussions and he cut off communication about a new deal.
There is no guarantee that Adams will leave Green Bay this coming offseason, or that the Packers would let him. Brian Gutekunst could simply place the franchise tag on his star wideout. But, if he does hit the market, the Bears should absolutely be in pursuit of him.
Why Davante Adams Should Be The Bears' Top Free Agency Target
Bleacher Report recently published an article on the potential destinations for Adams in free agency. Chicago made the list, along with the Las Vegas Raiders, New York Jets, Detroit Lions and the Packers. Here is what they had to say about Adams and the Bears.
“If Chicago's brass can convince Adams to buy in on the offensive promise that can complement a high-quality defense, the Bears will be much better positioned to compete for a divisional title and playoff spot in 2022.”
It won't be easy for the Bears to convince Adams to leave the situation he has with the Packers. Playing with Aaron Rodgers is a major bonus for any NFL wide receiver. Joining a team with a second-year quarterback and plenty of other work to do on the roster might be a tough sell.
However, if Adams were to sign with the Bears, their offense would immediately become deadly. Fields would have arguably the best weapon in the entire league to work with.
So far this season with the Packers in 11 games, Adams has racked up 80 receptions for 1,083 yards and five touchdowns. He has dominated opposing defenses and done so consistently. Last season with Green Bay, Adams caught 115 passes for 1,374 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Perhaps the Bears could even convince Robinson to re-sign in free agency if they were able to snag Adams. Can you imagine an offense featuring Fields, Adams, Robinson, David Montgomery and Cole Kmet? Chicago would immediately be among the NFL's elite offensive units.
There are plenty of teams who will have the ability to spend big money during free agency this offseason. The Bears happen to be a team that could make a strong pitch for an elite star like Adams. As previously mentioned, selling their future to Adams could be difficult, but Chicago should already be planning that pursuit.
Pace and the Bears have been stuck in mediocrity for far too long. They now have a legitimate long-term franchise quarterback with a decent offense around him, a defense still capable of being elite, and the ability to make a coaching change to improve in that area. Adding a superstar talent like Adams to the mix would simply help speed up the entire process of getting back into contention.
Adams will be one of the top names to keep an eye on this offseason as free agency draws closer. The Packers will no doubt try once again to get a new deal done with him and they might just place the franchise tag on him. But if they don't, the Bears and several other teams around the league will come calling with plenty of money and sales pitches for Adams to listen to.
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