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Should Ryan Poles, Bears make a free-agency splash with Mike Williams? Let’s weigh the option originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
Ryan Poles and the Bears front office have been semi-active in free agency this offseason.
Most notably, they signed running back D’Andre Swift to a lucrative three-year deal that’s set to make him $8 million per year. They beefed up their offensive line with Ryan Bates and Coleman Shelton. And they got a “quarterback on defense” in safety Kevin Byard.
But one of the positions everyone’s wondering about is wide receiver. Edge rusher remains a prominent box to check, too. But the Bears could use some upgrades in the pass-catching department, especially if Poles plans to tie his name to a new quarterback in Caleb Williams with the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL draft.
Recently, an opportunity to fill the void opened up, as the Chargers released Mike Williams on Wednesday, saving themselves $20 million in cap space. The Chagers were fighting to get under the NFL’s cap line by Wednesday, releasing Williams and restructuring Khalil Mack’s contract in the process.
Williams, 29, would make a great fit on any NFL team, including the Bears. He has a big frame (6-foot-4 and 218 pounds) with a knack for making contested catches and catching the deep ball. He accounts for the third-most receiving yards over expected from vertical routes between 2018-22, trailing only Justin Jefferson and Davante Adams in that category, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.
There are drawbacks to signing Williams though, too. In 2022, Williams fractured his back during the team’s regular-season finale, missing their first playoff game against the Jaguars. During Week 3 of last season, Williams tore his ACL, forcing him to miss the entire year.
He’s likely seeking a hefty price tag for his services, as his previous contract with the Chargers saw him earning $20 million per year. Williams is probably expecting the same, or close to the same amount of money from whoever looks…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/ryan-poles-bears-free-agency-222733358.html
Author : NBC Sports Chicago
Publish date : 2024-03-14 22:27:33
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