When the Chicago Bears hired Luke Getsy as their offensive coordinator in 2022, one thing they tried to do was help ease his transition by acquiring players he was familiar with. That first off-season, they signed former Green Bay Packers receiver Equanimeous St. Brown and center Lucas Patrick. They did it again this past off-season with the addition of tight end Robert Tonyan. One can surmise GM Ryan Poles will work to do the same for new offensive coordinator Shane Waldron.
There are several free agents the Bears could target when the action begins in March. It turns out more than a few notable names have worked with Waldron before. Here are some who might be able to help.
Shane Waldron could help lure some notable names to Chicago.
TE Noah Fant
Tonyan will be a free agent this year, so it won’t be a surprise if the Bears look into adding some depth at tight end. Fant went to Seattle in 2022 as part of the Russell Wilson trade with Denver. Over the past two years, he was often the third option in the Seahawks’ passing game behind DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. He’s an athletic receiving weapon but doesn’t offer much beyond that.
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TE Gerald Everett
Waldron and Everett go back to 2017 with the Los Angeles Rams. They worked together through 2021. While he was never a dominant player, he was a reliable option in the passing game who could do a little bit of everything. His versatility made him a valuable chess piece. He’s spent most of his career playing in a wide-zone offense, so the transition would be smooth if he joined the Bears.
C Evan Brown
Lucas Patrick isn’t the Bears’ long-term answer at center. Cody Whitehair is also likely getting cut. So, a complete revamp of the position feels likely. Brown was the primary starter in Seattle last year. He wasn’t anything special, finishing with average marks across the board in run and pass blocking. That said, his familiarity with Shane Waldron could make him a decent option as a backup.
QB Drew Lock
Speaking of backups, it’s unclear where the new offensive coordinator will stand on Tyson Bagent as the primary reserve at quarterback. He may wish to go with somebody who has more experience. Lock worked with him this past season in Seattle and looked good during his limited opportunities. The two even engineered a big 4th quarter comeback together against the Philadelphia Eagles.
WR Josh Reynolds
Waldron was the Rams’ passing game coordinator in 2020 when Reynolds had his best season with them, totaling 618 yards and two touchdowns. He is a big, physical target with a knack for popping open down the field. Chicago needs more depth at wide receiver. Adding somebody with his 6’4 frame who understands the responsibilities in a wide-zone system makes perfect sense.
WR Van Jefferson
Another big target to consider. Waldron helped Jefferson adjust to the NFL as a rookie in 2020. The receiver popped for over 800 yards a year later, helping them win the Super Bowl. It’s unclear why he fell off after that, but his brief stint in Atlanta didn’t work out. He is still only 27 years old. There is no reason to think he can’t offer something to the Bears as they look to reshape the receiver position.
QB Russell Wilson*
There is an asterisk next to this name because he’s not technically a free agent. However, all signs point to Denver cutting Wilson this off-season. In such an event, his name must be considered. He and Waldron worked together in 2021. Wilson even requested him specifically for the Seahawks coordinator job. Things went well that season. Despite missing three games with a finger injury, Wilson still threw for 3,113 yards, 25 touchdowns, and only six interceptions. They never got to explore their relationship after that. Wilson got traded to Denver the next year. If the Bears aren’t keen on starting a rookie in 2024, maybe they lure the future Hall of Famer to Chicago for a one-year stint.
