ESPN Predicts Unexpected WR Option For Justin Fields And Bears

At first glance, this is not the off-season the Chicago Bears would've hoped for when it comes to fixing their wide receiver problems. Free agency has no standout names to speak of. When Jacobi Meyers is your best option, that isn't ideal. The NFL draft isn't much better. Nobody can agree on who the top option is, which is often indicative of a weak class. That might explain why GM Ryan Poles made the aggressive move to acquire Chase Claypool. He hopes the talented receiver can grow and mature alongside Justin Fields.

Still, it would be irresponsible if the Bears didn't keep their eyes and ears open for unexpected developments. Sometimes certain players become available that weren't planned. Tyreek Hill is a perfect example. The star receiver seemed like an easy choice to keep in Kansas City. Money issues got in the way, and the Chiefs decided to trade him. Maybe something like that could happen again. Bill Barnwell of ESPN believes there is one prominent name that fits a similar profile.

Chris Godwin of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

"Trading Godwin, on the other hand, is a different story. Parting ways with the 27-year-old would free up nearly $9 million in cap room and take a significant earner off the payroll in 2023 and 2024. Godwin wasn't as effective after returning from a torn ACL last season, and while he should still be in the prime of his career, Tampa should be able to get by with Evans -- who would likely end up getting a new deal out of the equation -- and Russell Gage at wideout.

The deal would also net the Bucs some useful draft capital. I'm not sure they could expect to land a Tyreek Hill or Davante Adams-sized haul, but a late-first-round pick would hardly be out of the question. The Giants sit at No. 25 and don't have a significant receiver on the roster for quarterback Daniel Jones. Would trading for Godwin accelerate their offense? I wouldn't advocate trading Godwin for pennies on the dollar, but Licht should be willing to take calls on him."

Godwin would be an instant upgrade for the Chicago Bears.

He falls into that classification of wide receiver that would be a #1 option anywhere else in the NFL. However, since he's played with Mike Evans his entire career, it's been easy to overlook him. He's posted 1,000 yards or more in three of the past four seasons and was crucial in their NFC championship victory over the Green Bay Packers in 2021. He turns 27 on February 27th with two years left on his contract at a little over $23 million annually. The Bears have more than enough cap space to afford that.

The sticking point is compensation. The Chicago Bears aren't trading the #1 overall pick for Godwin. That means they must procure another 1st rounder or consider trading their 1st in 2024. Otherwise, they could try offering a 2nd rounder to see if the Buccaneers bite. That seems unlikely. Truth be told, it doesn't feel like the Bears are in the best position to make an aggressive trade like that. Godwin would definitely help, but the price might be too high. Still, it's worth exploring.