There is a common misconception about the waiver wire each year. Fans think it’s their team’s last chance to upgrade their roster. Maybe they can find a diamond in the rough other teams missed. In truth, waiver claims aren’t about improving the ceiling of your roster. It is about improving the floor. Depth is almost as vital to success in the NFL as star power. The Chicago Bears have several positions with apparent depth issues.
GM Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus know they’re an injury or two away from significant problems at multiple spots on their roster. That is why both have dropped hints for the past week that the Bears could be active on the wire. Knowing this, here is a list of available players that might serve their purposes.
Chicago Bears should look into these five names.
WR Chris Conley
Poles should know him well. Conley was a 3rd round pick for Kansas City in 2015. Nobody can say he’s had a stellar career, but the man has 215 career catches for 2,807 yards and 15 touchdowns. He posted 323 yards and two TDs last season on just 37 targets. He is 29 years old, so age isn’t a huge issue. When comparing him and Tajae Sharpe or N’Keal Harry, Conley has proven far more steady and reliable.
Davis Mills hit a pair of long bombs on this drive — this one a long touchdown to Chris Conley — Texans take a 17-12 lead pic.twitter.com/krHWOQfyHz
— Rivers McCown (@riversmccown) December 26, 2021
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TE Tyler Kroft
Cutting James O’Shaughnessy was a surprise for the Chicago Bears. It left them with only two tight ends in Cole Kmet and Ryan Griffin. Rookie Jake Tonges remains as a tight end/fullback hybrid. It feels like they need another body. With three different teams, Kroft has carved out a career as a reliable backup for years. His big problem has been health. He hasn’t played a full season since 2017. Still, the guy is a reliable blocker and can be a threat in the passing game.
OL Alex Leatherwood
When a team cuts a 1st round pick after only one season, that feels like a red flag. Leatherwood was terrible in 2021 as a rookie, allowing 67 pressures. Even so, it’s hard to imagine an organization not giving him at least one more chance. That is where the Raiders changing head coach and GM accelerated the decision to move on. Leatherwood isn’t perfect, but he was a stud at Alabama and got drafted high for a reason. Maybe a fresh start in Chicago could help him.
DT Armon Watts:
6-5 307 LBS. Played mostly NT for the Vikings but still had 5 sacks last season (I also think he can play 3T as well). In a 1-gap scheme you still need your NT to be able to shoot gaps and he is quick enough to do that. Long arms and powerful hands pic.twitter.com/3A3Da5RqLq— Chicago Football Connection (@CFCBears) August 30, 2022
DT Armon Watts
It isn’t easy to find justification for the Minnesota Vikings doing this. Watts had a breakout year in 2021, racking up five sacks and 33 pressures on the quarterback. One can only think the team switching to a 3-4 defense had something to do with it. Either way, the Bears have considerable depth concerns at defensive tackle. Interior pressure is vital to their system. Somebody like Watts is exactly what they need in case Justin Jones gets injured at some point this season.
CB Lonnie Johnson Jr.
Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon are #1 and #2 for the Bears at cornerback. After that? It gets dicey. Tavon Young still isn’t healthy. Kindle Vildor is their next best option. It isn’t clear why Johnson fell out of favor in Houston. He had three interceptions last season, and QBs posted a meager 76.6 passer rating when targeting him. Whatever the reason, he has experience playing in this style of defense. That breakout year in 2021 came under Lovie Smith. It feels like an easy decision for the Bears.
