KaVontae Turpin, USFL MVP, Is Exactly The What The Bears Like

The Chicago Bears aren’t going to stop churning their roster until they win a championship. So nobody should expect GM Ryan Poles to be done making moves this year. More are coming. One position that could see something happen sooner than later is wide receiver. Right now, only four players look like locks to make it in Darnell Mooney, Velus Jones, Byron Pringle, and Equanimeous St. Brown. That leaves two roster spots up for grabs. One name that should get attention from the team is KaVontae Turpin.

Their type has become well-established at this point. They like guys who are athletic, fast, and versatile. The former TCU standout proved he’s all of those things during an MVP season for the New Jersey Generals in the USFL. Across ten games, he amassed 540 receiving yards, 129 rushing yards, 184 punt return yards, 68 kick return yards, and six touchdowns. He was electric any time they got the ball in his hands.

KeVontae Turpin can play. So where’s the but?

This comes with two issues. The wide receiver almost saw his football career destroyed for admitting to assaulting his girlfriend in 2018. It was a misdemeanor, and he served no jail time, but the arrest was a bad look and the primary reason he wasn’t drafted. To his credit, he’s stayed out of trouble since then, but the stain remains on his record. The other part is his size. Turpin is 5’9 and was reported to be 153 lbs coming out of college. So not only short but also thin. NFL teams would’ve been immediately suspicious of his ability to stay healthy.

Since then, he has reportedly improved to around 165-170 lbs. His ability to avoid injuries during the entire Generals season suggests he’s durable enough. Signing him has definite risks, but the cost would be minimal from a money standpoint. If the Bears are looking for another piece that can do more than one thing for their team, KaVontae Turpin fits that profile.