The Chicago Bears need to sign wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders in free agency to give Mitchell Trubisky the best opportunity to succeed at quarterback.
The Chicago Bears need to figure out what they’re doing at quarterback this year.
2020 is a critical year for the Bears. Unless they extend a fifth-year option to him, this would be the last year of Mitchell Trubisky‘s rookie deal with the team. Though he made it to the Pro Bowl in 2018, the team regressed last season due in large part because of his play at the quarterback position.
If the Bears want finally find out if he’s a franchise quarterback, they need to surround him with enough weapons to make this claim undeniable. Chicago needs to not only add a tight end who can have better than a 100-yard season, but the Bears need a wide receiver who can complement Allen Robinson in the passing game.
How about Emmanuel Sanders?
Sanders was traded midseason last year from the Denver Broncos to the San Francisco 49ers. Not only did he land in a better offensive situation, but he got to play in a Super Bowl during his brief time in Santa Clara. Though he could be back with the 49ers on a new contract, Sanders might be worth pursuing in free agency if you’re the Bears.
Chicago may aim for a premium tight end the likes of Austin Hooper of the Atlanta Falcons or Hunter Henry of the Los Angeles Chargers, if the Bolts don’t end up tagging the Arkansas product. However, that’s not going to be enough to fix Trubisky in 2020.
By adding a proven veteran receiver in Sanders, the Bears would have two quality pass-catchers at wide receiver, a two-time Pro Bowl tight end if they land Hooper and an excellent multi-faceted playmaker in the backfield in running back Tarik Cohen. That’s enough for Trubisky to work with in Matt Nagy’s offensive system. It’ll be year three of them together, so they need to make it happen.
Of course, the Bears may look to bring in a veteran quarterback to push Trubisky for the starting job. Signal-callers like Andy Dalton, Marcus Mariota, Ryan Tannehill and Jameis Winston could all end up with Chicago. Ultimately, jobs are on the line. Nagy needs his quarterback to play better. Even if Trubisky can’t, Sanders can certainly bring this Bears passing game along upon his arrival.