Rapid rebuilds happened for Chicago Bears wide receiver position before
Despite their ugly all-time list, the fact is the Bears have shown an ability to overhaul the receiving position quickly. Meaning as in one offseason. That may sound impossible but then again memories of the modern fan are short. It has happened not once, but twice in the past 40 years. They took a bad passing offense and in a span of months set it on course for NFL success.
2012
- Traded for Brandon Marshall from Miami
- Drafted Alshon Jeffery in the second round
Say this for ex-GM Phil Emery. He understood what good receivers looked like. Chicago had arguably the worst group in 2011. Guys like Roy Williams, Devin Hester, Johnny Knox and Earl Bennett were their options. Sure they may have been fan favorites but they were far from elite. When Emery took over in 2012 he set about changing that.
Things started with a bang when he traded two third round picks to the Dolphins in exchange for Pro Bowler Brandon Marshall. A month later he traded up in the draft to secure Alshon Jeffery out of South Carolina. The Bears passing game went from 26th in 2011 to 5th by 2013. Marshall and Jeffery both made the Pro Bowl that year.
1983
- Drafted Willie Gault in the first round
- Signed Dennis McKinnon as undrafted free agent
The Bears in the 1980s were always a running football team. Kind of obvious when Walter Payton was in the backfield. At the same time if they were going to become a complete offense they needed credible receivers. From 1980 to 1982 the Bears were 28th, 27th and 23rd in passing respectively. By 1983 they realized they needed to upgrade. Then Gault and McKinnon arrived.
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Over the next three years the offense finished 17th, 26th and 20th in passing. That 26th ranking was due in large part to starting quarterback Jim McMahon being injured. The improvement may not have been huge but it was significant. Gault and McKinnon became crucial to the teams’ 1985 Super Bowl run. McKinnon caught two touchdowns against New York in the divisional playoff. Gault had a TD against the Rams in the NFC championship and 129 yards against New England in the Super Bowl.
The point is this isn’t some sort of mythical puzzle to solve. If Pace is smart and willing to be aggressive in 2018, there is a good chance he can set Trubisky up for success moving forward.
