The Chicago Bears passing game is a mess. People are pointing in every direction, trying to find the source. Justin Fields can’t read the field or hit open guys. The offensive line’s pass protection isn’t nearly good enough. The wide receivers aren’t creating enough separation. In reality, each of those has an element of truth to it. Fields isn’t getting the best protection, and his weaponry is hardly star-studded. Still, he deserves his share of criticism too. GM Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus have to seek solutions. Maybe Kenny Golladay is one.
In 2019, the former Detroit Lions wide receiver was a borderline Pro Bowler. He’d cracked 1,000 yards with 11 touchdown catches. He missed most of 2020 with nagging injuries, but that didn’t stop the New York Giants from handing him a lucrative contract last off-season. It appears they’re regretting that deal. After an uninspiring 2021 where he didn’t crack 600 yards or score a TD, he now has two catches through three games this season. Word is the Giants have been trying to find a team that will take him off their hands. His contract makes that difficult. Still, it’s possible he could be dealt sooner than later, and Eric Edholm of NFL.com thinks the Bears are an obvious destination.
He explained why.
“But there aren’t a ton of daunting games on the schedule, and if the Bears think they can be a surprise contender, adding a veteran to the receiving room could make some sense. It also might help in the new regime’s evaluation of Fields — how can they truly tell how good he can be if he’s working with an incomplete offensive crew?…
…Golladay might have interest in going home, too. He’s a Chicago native who went to Northern Illinois, and if he’s looking for the chance for revenge against his former Lions team, whom he’s never faced, the Bears still have them twice later in the season. When he played for the Lions, Golladay was a notorious Bears killer.”
The Giants were more than willing to take on a significant chunk of his salary to move Kenny Golladay before the roster cutdown, to no avail. He’s been available for a while—with the contract making it difficult to trade him.
Might take an injury somewhere to make it happen. https://t.co/JuSDcUxQvA
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) September 27, 2022
Kenny Golladay is an easy sell at the right price.
The contract is the big hurdle. There is a lot of guaranteed money left to pay, and no team will want to eat it, given how he’s playing right now. New York’s willingness to eat most of that money makes it easier. However, it still isn’t known what compensation they’re seeking for him. Golladay is only 28 years old. So he isn’t over the hill. He can still regain the former he showed a few years ago. That said, the Giants might have to be willing to accept a minimal draft pick to get him out of there.
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From the Bears’ perspective, the contract isn’t overly daunting. They have the most cap space of any team going into 2023. Not having to pay the guarantees would make taking it on easy. The question for them is whether a 6th round-ish pick is worth the risk for a guy that looks nothing like what he was after getting his money. It is hard to accept the idea he’d be able to help get Fields out of his slump. Maybe a fresh start helps him.
You’re kidding, right?
Ian Rapoport writes: “The Giants will be on the hook for $40 million unless they can find a trade partner. If they do find one, that new team would take on whatever salary is left this year and $4.5 million guaranteed next season.”
You just blew any chance you had at the Pulitzer Prize, Lambert.
But, there’s always “Media Clown of the Year.” You’ve got my vote.
@Sam Backus.. They have better supporting cats now. Not so sure thats true for their 2nd years in the league. Other than maybe Hurts. When you have a run game this good, the QB should be able to take advantage of it. Especially when WR’s are clearly open.
Recent injuries to WRs on Giants might make them less willing to let him go. His complaint is he isn’t getting targets. They need to give him targets now, so he might suddenly become a happy camper.
If we were to go after a NY Giants WR I would much rather have Toney however the rumors about his character are concerning but then again wasn’t Tyreek similar? If Poles and Flus see they can handle him he could definitely be worth a mid round pick in my opinion over Golladay
Why are the Giants willing to eat salary on a huge contract after one season again?
Why would the Bears want to take that on?
You fill in the gaps