Right now, the Chicago Bears look like they plan to stand firm on their wide receiver room. GM Ryan Poles likes what he and his scouts have pieced together. Darnell Mooney was already in place. Behind him, the team added solid slot guy Byron Pringle and speedy 3rd round pick Velus Jones Jr. As for depth, veterans like Tajae Sharpe, Dante Pettis, David Moore, and Equanimeous St. Brown make up the primary competition.
History says not to get comfortable with that alignment. The Bears are a rebuilding team. That means very few names on the roster are safe. If Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus see an opportunity to land somebody who can make a big contribution, they will pounce on it. That is especially true if they come young and relatively cheap. Enter Darius Slayton. According to ESPN insider Jordan Raanan, there is a strong possibility the 25-year-old receiver could be cut at some point in the next two months.
“Darius Slayton, WR
Slayton is entering the final season of his rookie deal, and there were at least some discussions about moving him last year and this offseason. With a new regime, his spot appears uncertain, especially after spending the spring working plenty with the second team, even with the top three wide receivers injured. It didn’t help that Slayton dropped some wide-open passes deep downfield during OTAs and minicamp. If the Giants’ wide receiving corps is healthy, they do have numbers.”
Slayton can be a big help to the Chicago Bears.
He was a quality target for the Giants in 2019 and 2020, amassing 1,491 yards and 11 touchdowns. Last season was difficult for him as injuries plagued the New York quarterback position. Now with a new head coach and new GM in charge, there is a strong likelihood that changes are coming to the offense. Slayton looks like he could be one of the bigger casualties. If he is released during cuts in August, it won’t take long for him to find a new home.
The Chicago Bears make a ton of sense. Not only is he a player with good size (6’1) and decent speed, but he also has direct ties to wide receivers coach Tyke Tolbert. The two worked together for three years in New York. Slayton would see Chicago as a prime landing spot. They’d give him a fresh start with a real opportunity to play under a coach he knows and trusts. Conversely, the Bears would land a receiver entering his prime who has shown glimpses of being a good player in the past. It is a potential win-win.
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