This $32 million former Pro Bowl player may catch the attention of the Bears.
If DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, and Rome Odunze can stay healthy, the Chicago Bears might have one of the best wide receiving trios in the NFL in 2024; but, the depth behind them is uncertain going into training camp. Of their non-starters, only two have caught at least 20 receptions in their careers. The seasoned receivers Dante Pettis and DeAndre Carter are both firmly on the bubble of the roster.
Could the Bears go after a veteran in free agency again to add depth?
Hunter renfrow, a former Las Vegas Raiders veteran who was cut by the team on March 13 in order to save $8.21 million on salary cap, is a free agency and might be a viable option for the Bears, according to Joe Tansey of Bleacher Report.
Renfrow was selected as a Pro Bowl alternate in 2021 after catching 103 catches for 1,038 yards and nine touchdowns with the Raiders. Since then, though, the 28-year-old’s output has drastically decreased; in the last two seasons combined, he has only recorded 61 receptions for 585 yards and two touchdowns. Put differently, Renfrow has demonstrated that he is not a starter, as has the market that has disregarded him.
However, with 269 career catches, Renfrow fits the Bears’ need for an experienced No. 4 receiver who could battle with rookie Tyler Scott in the slot.
Renfrow had 103 receptions for 1,038 yards and nine touchdowns with the Raiders, which led to his selection as a Pro Bowl alternate in 2021. However, since then, the 28-year-old’s production has significantly dropped; during the course of the previous two seasons, he has only caught 61 passes for 585 yards and two scores. To put it another way, both the market and Renfrow have shown that they are not starters.
Renfrow, though, meets the Bears’ need for an experienced No. 4 receiver who can compete with youngster Tyler Scott in the slot with 269 career catches.
In 2024, may the Bears sign Hunter Renfrow for a low cost?
Tansey has some merit in her suggestion. The Bears’ top three receivers, Odunze, has not yet played an NFL snap, so the team lacks experience behind them. Although Scott is the front-runner to be their fourth receiver in the rotation, he is still inexperienced having only caught 17 of his 32 targets for 168 yards in a restricted role as a rookie in 2023. Velus Jones Jr. is another player that could make the squad because of his ability to return from injury, but in his first two seasons in Chicago, he has not impressed with his offensive output.
Renfrow would make sense if the Bears think they need more offensive force in the receiving corps to prepare rookie quarterback Caleb Williams for success in 2024.
Renfrow gains from having a strong background in returns on his CV. During his first four seasons with the Raiders, he averaged 9.7 yards on 70 punt returns; however, in 2023, he did not return punts. But if Renfrow still has it, his return ability along with his receiving background would make him a better player than Carter or Pettis.
Renfrow might also be within the Bears’ spending plan. After a 1,000-yard season in 2022, he inked a $32 million extension with the Raiders; but, given his dismal performance in the previous two seasons, his worth is expected to be much lower now. Given that the majority of training camps begin reporting in a few weeks, a one-year contract also appears possible.
If the Bears believe they need depth, then giving Renfrow a one-year, $3 million contract with playtime or performance incentives could be a wise move on their part.
At WR, are Bears Ready to Put Their Trust in Youth Instead?
If the Bears decide they need additional experience at receiver, they might add Renfrow or another veteran similar to him. Some possibilities may not even become available until nearer to the deadline of August 27 for 53-man roster cuts, if at all. In a crowded New England receiving group, for example, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Tyquan Thornton are both vying for roster slots and might become available before September.
The Bears’ biggest question mark in the receiver room is Scott, a 2023 fourth-round pick who has the speed and ball-tracking ability to be a valuable asset in the slot for Chicago. Ryan Poles stated to NFL Network’s Cynthia Frelund following the 2023 NFL draft that Scott reminded him of Seattle’s Tyler Lockett when they scouted him at Cincinnati. If he is correct, then Shane Waldron, the team’s new offensive coordinator and former offensive coordinator in.