Free Agent Will Fuller Connected To The Bears

After the NFL draft in May, GM Ryan Poles vowed that he wasn't done adding to the Chicago Bears roster. He would continue to seek out anybody he feels can help this team improve. One position that remains a significant talking point is wide receiver. Many people don't believe Poles has done enough to help quarterback Justin Fields on that front despite adding eight new faces, including Byron Pringle and Velus Jones. More is needed. So what about Will Fuller? The former 1st round pick of the Houston Texans had his best season in 2020, posting 879 yards and eight touchdowns in only 11 games. Sadly his 2021 ended after three games due to a broken thumb. Now he's a free agent again and still without a team. Expectations were he might be an easy target for the Cleveland Browns after they traded for Deshaun Watson, his former QB in Houston. That doesn't appear likely anymore, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.

This is where it gets interesting.

Speculation is rampant on where Fuller will end up. That was when NFL analyst Lindsey Yok chimed in with her thoughts.

Yok has covered the NFL for several years for prominent outlets like the Baltimore Sun and USA Today. Her work has been featured on NFL Network and Fox Sports, among others. So she carries solid credentials. Enough to make one pause and wonder if she knows something. Remember, she isn't a Bears fan, so this isn't some sort of wishful thinking on her part. It is possible she could be hearing rumblings. When examining the idea, there is some sense behind it. Fuller checks some key boxes of Poles' free agency approach this year. He's still only 28-years-old and is one of the fastest wide receivers in the NFL. This Bears regime covets speed and knows they have a Justin Fields quarterback who loves to throw deep. [video width="854" height="480" mp4="https://www.sportsmockery.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Will-Fuller-FULL-2020-Highlights-ᴴᴰ.mp4"][/video]

Will Fuller has one glaring issue haunting him.

That is his health. The broken thumb last season was far from the first injury setback he's ever suffered. Since 2017, he has never played more than 11 games in a single season. Something always seems to pop up that causes him to miss time. The injury-prone label is well-earned at this point. Teams have been willing to stomach it because the guy can be such a game-breaker when he's healthy. Maybe the Bears are interested. Much of that depends on Will Fuller himself. Specifically, it's how much money he is looking for. One can imagine he has held out for the best possible deal he can get to this point but no team is biting. He may have no choice but to accept a minimal or incentive-laden contract to get on a roster. Teams aren't willing to stick their necks out for somebody so unreliable.

The best ability is availability.

If he does come to Chicago, the potential would be fascinating. A trio of him, Darnell Mooney, and Jones would give them arguably the fastest receiving corps in the NFL. Perfect for Fields. Then again, Poles is big on medicals. So he may not wish to take that risk unless he's confident the team is protected—something to watch.