The Chicago Bears will have one of their most significant off-seasons in recent years as there will be several moves needed to improve their offense. Although the quarterback position will be the most-watched position this offseason, the second position watched will be at wide receiver. With Allen Robinson becoming a free agent and other changes likely at the receiver position, the team may turn to free agency to address their needs, including A.J. Green.

The 2021 Bears Wide Receiver Position Will Look Vastly Different

With Robinson entering free agency, there is a good chance the team could lose the Pro Bowl receiver unless they can re-sign him to a lucrative contract. Chicago also could lose three more of their wide receivers as receiver and returner Cordarrelle Patterson will enter free agency while it is likely the team will part ways with Anthony Miller and Javon Wims. Although Miller and Wims are under contract and provide depth, they have become unreliable due to their ejections against the Saints for fighting.

The two receivers that appear to be safe on the roster are Darnell Mooney and Riley Ridley. Mooney had a terrific rookie season catching 61 passes for 631 yards and four touchdowns. Ridley was inactive for most of the 2020 season but has shown flashes of being a dependable third or fourth option receiver. If the Bears lose Robinson, Wims, and Miller during the offseason, general manager Ryan Pace will have to fill the position via free agency and the draft.

With the Bears having limited salary cap space and needing to address the quarterback position, one affordable free agent receiver the team could target could be Green. The Bengals’ Pro Bowler will be a free agent after being with Cincinnati for nine seasons. Green was named to the Pro Bowl in his first seven seasons in the league and has had six 1,000 yard receiving seasons.

Despite his successful career, Green will be an affordable free agent due to his recent injury history. Green has only been healthy in one of the last three seasons while missing the entire 2019 season with a toe injury. Although the Bengals’ star played in all 16 of the 2020 season, he only caught 47 passes while registering a career-low two touchdown catches.

The #Bengals are placing Pro Bowl WR AJ Green on Injured Reserve after he reaggravated his toe injury in Sunday’s game. @AdamSchefter reported he’s expected to have surgery and Green will have a doctor’s appointment tomorrow morning to make the final determination.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 4, 2018

Green And The Bears Could Be A Perfect Match

Green could be a perfect fit for the Bears as he is unlikely to garner a big contract and may sign a one-year prove it deal for a team. Furthermore, Bears’ offensive coordinator Bill Lazor was the Bengals offensive coordinator in 2017 and 2018. Under Lazor, Green had over 1,000 yards receiving and was named to the Pro Bowl in 2017. He would have done the same in 2018 but was limited to just 10 games averaging over 14 yards per reception.

From @NFLMatchup — #Bengals OC Bill Lazor can scheme up shot plays for QB Andy Dalton…Here’s a deep seam route to AJ Green vs. Cover 6. Get the inside matchup from a slot alignment. pic.twitter.com/7DebyAhLrm

— Matt Bowen (@MattBowen41) October 7, 2018

Pace would be foolish not to target Green if the team cannot re-sign Robinson. Although there will be other viable options available, including Chris Godwin and Kenny Golladay, the Bears may not have the salary-cap space to sign either free agent. Pace shouldn’t make Green his top receiving target but should try to sign either Robinson, Golladay, or Godwin and then target the Bengals standout receiver as a fallback.

So @spotrac has projected Market Values for four Bengals free agents.

AJ Green: 1-year, $6m
Carl Lawson: 4-years, $35m (8.8m per)
William Jackson: 3-years, $19M, ($6.3m per)
Mackensie Alexander: 3-years, $25M (8.4m per)

What

— Goodberry (@JoeGoodberry) January 25, 2021

Signing a top-tier receiver and Green would give Chicago a quality starting wide-receiver pair. Having a talented starting receiving combination would also allow Mooney to be used as a slot receiver. Pace’s goal shouldn’t be to rely on the 32-year old receiver to be the team’s number one receiver, but more so as a secondary option who could thrive facing less coverage. Last offseason, the Bears conducted a similar move when they signed former Pro Bowl tight end Jimmy Graham. Although many thought signing Graham was a waste, the signing paid off as the tight end caught eight touchdowns and was a vital red-zone target.

While significant attention will be paid to who the Bears bring in to be their starting quarterback in 2021, how they fill out their wide receiver position will be something to keep an eye on. Signing Green could fly underneath the radar but could payoff during the regular season if he can stay healthy. Both the player and team can benefit one another as 2021 will be a prove-it year for both.