Bears Wide Receiver Group Ranked No. 1 in NFL
John Kosko of Pro Football Focus is assessing and ranking position groups across the NFL, and according to Klosko, the Bears have the best receiver group in the NFL. That’s a welcome revelation considering how much the room has changed since GM Ryan Poles arrived.
2021
2022
2023
- D.J. Moore
- Mooney
- Tyler Scott
- Kmet
- Robert Tonyan
This is how you get the 1st 4,000 yard passer in Chicago Bears history. You gotta have multiple 1,000 yard receivers. https://t.co/6rc4haVlxB
— illwill (@79illwill) May 8, 2024
That’s a big leap in three years considering Mushin Muhammad once said “Chicago is the place where wide receivers go to die.” Caleb Williams has a lot of options in his offensive arsenal and is walking into a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for any rookie quarterback.
Here’s what PFF wrote about the Bears:
“There are several contenders for the top wide receiver room, but the Bears’ offseason moves push them to the top. Of course, they have to prove it on the field, but the combination of Moore, Keenan Allen, and rookie Rome Odunze make up a room with multiple skill sets and talents to beat opposing defenses. Moore and Allen ranked 10th and 11th, respectively, in PFF grade in 2023 and should only help each other thrive in 2024.”
With Allen’s addition, the Bears are the only NFL team with two receivers who both compiled at least 1,200 yards last season. Allen finished 11th with 1,243 yards, while Moore was sixth with a career-high 1,364 yards.
“It’s a lose-lose for the defense,” Moore said. “One dude has done it longer and one is right behind him, still learning the game but understands it.”
Williams alone is a massive upgrade, but a mix of Moore, Allen, Odunze, Kmet and Gerald Everett gives Chicago strike-at-any-moment potential. The Bears also have three solid options at running back in D’Andre Swift, Khalil Herbert, and Roschon Johnson. The offensive line needs to play better, but the weaponry is in place. Shane Waldron will run a more dynamic offense as compared to Luke Getsy, too.
That running back group received high praise from Mike Florio, also of Pro Football Focus.
Mike Florio has the Bears w his 2nd pick for the BEST RB room in the NFL. 👀
Do you agree Chicago? #DaBears #Bears #ChicagoBears pic.twitter.com/2zP7kbSaKU
— Clay Harbor (@clayharbs82) May 8, 2024
The Yahoo staff ranked Kmet at No. 14 among its top fantasy tight ends for 2024. Everett is ranked 27th overall. The Bears, Packers, and Raiders are the only teams with two tight ends in the top 32. Kmet welcomes the addition of Everett in the same manner that Moore appreciates Allen’s talents. What stands out most to Kmet about Everett’s game is how physical the 6-3, 245-pounder is after the catch.
“He’s a relentless player in that regard,” Kmet said. “He’s tough to bring down, and that brings a lot of juice to an offense when guys do that. That’s something that I try to predicate my game on as well is being tough to bring down and being physical with the ball in my hands, and he does that well. He’s also a very explosive athlete.”
It’s easy to see why Williams and Odunze were so eager to join the Bears. Chicago’s passing offense was ranked 27th last year, but ESPN’s preseason ranking puts the Bears at No. 16, though that’s still No. 3 in the highly-powered NFC North. The Lions are ranked No. 4, while Green Bay has the league’s 10th best offense according to the rankings.
“Justin Fields reached a career-high 2,562 passing yards in his third season in Chicago while accounting for 20 total touchdowns and nine interceptions,” Courtney Cronin wrote. “Those numbers were an improvement but still highlighted the inconsistencies the team has long had with its quarterback play.
“With [Williams], the Bears expect those numbers to spike considerably, given the upgrade of his capabilities as a passer. Williams’ arm strength, accuracy, mobility and ability to hit the same target whether he’s under pressure or not are qualities Chicago believes will elevate the entire offense and take a passing attack that ranked 27th (182.1 YPG) to new heights.”
Fans aren’t used to such high offensive expectations in The Windy City. There is no easy path to the postseason in the vastly improved NFC North, but at least the Bears will be fun to watch.
