Chicago Bears Came Really Close To Signing Top Free Agent WR
One thing about the NFL off-season is you can never predict how it will unfold. The best-laid plans never survive contact with the enemy. GM Ryan Poles knew what the Chicago Bears wanted to do going into March. They had to fortify the offense in preparation for the arrival of quarterback Caleb Williams. That meant adding firepower and bolstering the protection. They traded a 5th round pick to Buffalo for guard/center Ryan Bates and signed explosive running back D’Andre Swift to start free agency. Next on the agenda was obvious.
Find a wide receiver to pair with D.J. Moore.
Darnell Mooney wasn’t returning, leaving a considerable void at the position. We all know what eventually happened: Chicago flipped a 4th round pick to the Los Angeles Chargers for six-time Pro Bowler Keenan Allen. It was a considerable boon for the franchise, even if it’s only a short-term benefit. however, it almost went in a completely different direction. According to Henry McKenna of FOX Sports, the Bears came close to landing top free agent receiver Gabriel Davis before he chose to sign in Jacksonville.
It came down to playing in his home state for a familiar coach.
The Chicago Bears showed an ability to pivot.
Davis signed a three-year deal worth $39 million to play in Jacksonville. That is not an insignificant amount of money. Clearly, the Bears wanted him. In the end, other factors pushed him to the Jaguars. That is how the free agency process goes. Poles knew he couldn’t dwell on the missed opportunity for long. He had to find alternatives. That is what led him down the path to Allen. It was a smart decision, but came with a trade-off. Davis would likely have served as a strong long-term option at only 25 years old. Allen is 31. However, the latter is a better player and should be able to help Williams far more, at least for this season.
This explains why the Chicago Bears opted to select Rome Odunze at #9 overall in the draft. Not only was he an excellent prospect, but he also gave them much-needed long-term security at the position. Everything came together. Williams is fully armed and ready for the coming season. One could argue the Bears are in a far better spot than if they’d managed to sign Davis in the first place. It serves as another reminder of how unpredictable the off-season can be.