The Chicago Bears have exclusively been sellers ahead of the NFL trade deadline thus far. Robert Quinn and Roquan Smith were both jettisoned for 2nd, 4th, and 5th round picks. It isn’t a huge surprise. GM Ryan Poles is intent on rebuilding this team, and he needs draft assets to do it. Quinn was 32 and nearing the end of his career. Smith was about to command a huge contract the Bears didn’t want to pay. So the trades made sense. There are rumblings it may not be over too.
Except it isn’t in the way people might expect. Doug Kyed of Pro Football Focus revealed some interesting rumors as the deadline approached. One involves the New England Patriots, who are reportedly open to moving some of their veteran options. One of them is wide receiver Kendrick Bourne. The 27-year-old had an excellent season in 2021 with 800 yards and five touchdowns. However, he’s found his role diminished on offense this year. The price for acquiring him likely wouldn’t be high. That would explain why the Bears are interested.
“The Chicago Bears are among the teams who have called New England about Bourne’s availability in a trade, according to a source. Chicago needs wide receiver help but is otherwise selling off assets such as edge defender Robert Quinn and linebacker Roquan Smith in trades. It would help to get a player like Bourne in the building now to give him half of a season and the offseason to work with quarterback Justin Fields. One source did cast doubt that the Patriots ultimately would be willing to part ways with Bourne.”
The Chicago Bears are right to have an interest in Bourne.
He’s a solid football player, for one. Secondly, he has significant experience playing in the type of offensive system the Bears run. Before joining the Patriots, he spent four years playing in San Francisco for the 49ers. He finished his final season there with 667 yards and two TDs despite having to catch passes from three different quarterbacks. The guy has proven he can be a productive and reliable target for his quarterback. That is exactly what the Bears need.
Last Sunday in Dallas was another grim reminder of how thin the team is at the position. Receivers dropped more excellent passes from Justin Fields. Guys weren’t capable of making plays for their quarterback. If they aren’t going to take advantage of the opportunity, then maybe someone else will. Bourne would be an instant upgrade over almost everybody not named Darnell Mooney on the roster. Bourne has one year left on his current contract worth $6.9 million.
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@David re. JF1 qb & safety
LoL
@ Ghost Tomahawk has established one’s self as a Justin Fields hater. All comments by him is negative towards Justin Fields even though it’s evident that isn’t the case, probably not even from Chicago, and doesn’t watch Bears Games, only going off of final stats.
Ghost Tomahawk: I disagree about your evaluation of Fields. His early season was rough, but that is to be expected in a new offensive system that is among the most difficult in the NFL. A seasoned vet would have an adjustment period; Fields was a rookie who didn’t really get a rookie season because of the way Nagy used him, so early struggles were expected. Over the next three weeks the Bears play teams with less potent defenses. As long as Fields continues on this trajectory, in a month people will be saying he was the steal of the 2021… Read more »
I’m sorry the Bears are not going to be acquiring wide receivers with draft capital this season. This front office is not sold on Fields so getting reps with a QB who may not be starting or on the team isn’t an issue. We need to be realistic about the situation in Halas Hall. Poles is pouring his stamp on this team. Players from the previous regime are expendable. Fields play has done nothing to make him untouchable regardless of his draft status.
I’m sorry that is not correct. JF1 will continue to start at QB but will also play the WIL spot vacated by Roquan. Brisket will play some WR as he has demonstrated average hands.