Everybody has been so busy talking about the quarterbacks and the secondary for the Chicago Bears that it's easy to miss another vital area they have problems at. Outside of Zach Miller, who was lost to injured reserve for second time in three years, this team has zero credible weapons at that position they can bank on moving forward. Logan Paulsen is leaving via free agency (thankfully). He was a penalty machine during his short stint. Ben Braunecker was an intriguing undrafted free agent but didn't see much action. Daniel Brown had some interesting flashes but was hardly a consistent threat. MyCole Pruitt and Justin Perillo are training camp bodies for this summer. If the Bears are going to bring in a young quarterback, doesn't it make sense for the team to add as many legitimate weapons as possible? Having a big tight end who can create mismatches would be a welcome luxury. Good news then because this 2017 offseason should be rich in potential solutions.

O.J. Howard (Alabama)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pz7c5eYftf4 Draft experts are always hesitant to throw the word "elite" at a prospect. Every once in a while though one player emerges who is deserving of that tag. O.J. Howard is an example for tight ends. He learned excellent blocking technique at Alabama, so that's not an issue. It's his incredible combination of size, speed, athleticism and length that make him such a tantalizing prospect. So much so that he has a chance to be just the 18th tight end in history to get drafted in the top 10.

David Njoku (Miami)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRMR9tVB6nI Howard may be getting the hype, but one could definitely make a case that Miami stud David Njoku is every bit as good. He too is a freak athlete for his size, but his calling card is an uncanny ability to run after the catch. One might believe he's a 6'4" running backs in those situations. This however overshadows how sneaky good he is as a blocker, particularly in pass protection. Several times he went one-on-one with edge rushers and shut them out of the play.

Evan Engram (Ole Miss)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSBVUngFrQw Every team wants that tight end who can do everything, but more and more it's becoming apparent that such types are rare. One version of tight end that is gaining in popularity is the undersized but speedy receiving type. Made famous by Redskins Pro Bowler Jordan Reed. Ole Miss standout Evan Engram is built in this style. Not overly huge, but fast, athletic and a pair of utterly reliable hands. Linebackers and safeties have little chance of sticking with him down the field.

Gerald Everett (South Alabama)

[video width="854" height="480" mp4="https://www.sportsmockery.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/10116-South-Alabama-vs.-San-Diego-State-Highlights000150.000-000203.157.mp4"][/video] Another of the shorter-but-faster variety. Like Engram, South Alabama senior Gerald Everett took a lot of defenses by surprise with his ability to find the open creases in coverage and gash them for big games. He may have done his damage against lesser competition, but the tape doesn't lie. Get him matched up with anything a big corner and he almost always wins the battle and can gain enough separation to make impact plays.

Jake Butt (Michigan)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlDB9g9evMU Everybody looks for the explosive targets, but many times throughout history it's the steady, dependable guys who have the long careers. Think Heath Miller or Jason Witten. Those are the guys that Jake Butt emulates best. Hardly a burner but fast enough to find openings in coverage and sporting a big frame to make it easier for his quarterback to hit him. His blocking will need a lot of work, but when healthy he's a tough matchup due to an affinity for making the difficult, contested catches.

Jack Doyle (Colts)

[video width="854" height="480" mp4="https://www.sportsmockery.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Andrew-Luck-Ties-the-Game-with-Red-Zone-TD-to-Jack-Doyle-Lions-vs.-Colts-NFL.mp4"][/video] One of the bigger surprises in 2016. The Indianapolis Colts fully expected Dwayne Allen to become their most featured tight end target for Andrew Luck last season. Instead it was Jack Doyle who stole the show. In place of the departed Coby Fleener, he put up 589 yards and five touchdowns in his first substantial action as a player in four seasons. His timing couldn't be better at 26-years old with an expiring contract. Teams love young, ascending talents without a lot of mileage on their bodies.

Jordan Cameron (Dolphins)

[video width="854" height="480" mp4="https://www.sportsmockery.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Ryan-Tannehill-Scrambles-Finds-Jordan-Cameron-for-Big-Yards-Dolphins-vs.-Patriots-NFL.mp4"][/video] By no means did Cameron live up to the sizable contract the Dolphins gave him a few years back. His first year he just didn't find a connection with quarterback Ryan Tannehill and last season was undone by injuries. Nonetheless this is still a guy who went to a Pro Bowl in 2013 and is only 28-years old. There is a chance he can rebound to become an effective weapon again if somebody just gives him the opportunity.

Jared Cook (Packers)

[video width="854" height="480" mp4="https://www.sportsmockery.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Game-Winning-Jared-Cook-Catch-Green-Bay-Packers-at-Dallas-Cowboys.mp4"][/video] His clutch catch against Dallas was a reminder of how big a threat Jared Cook can be in the passing game when a team actually knows how to use him. He's still athletic with good speed for his size. He finished 2016 strong and turns 30 in April. A few good seasons could still be ahead of him. The trick will be keeping him involved, since he can tend to get a bit lazy and ineffective if he senses a team isn't trying to get the ball to him.

Jermaine Gresham (Cardinals)

[video width="854" height="480" mp4="https://www.sportsmockery.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Carson-Palmer-Finds-Jermaine-Gresham-for-an-Opening-Drive-TD-Cardinals-vs.-Falcons-NFL.mp4"][/video] He's always been a puzzling player. Gresham has shown constant flashes of being a potential weapon in the passing game but never seems able to get featured more in the offense. So he's carved out a career as a solid two-way role player who can bring some quality blocking and be the occasional target for red zone throws. Perhaps the Bears might be willing to give him more targets to see if he can be a productive weapon.

Vernon Davis (Redskins)

[video width="854" height="480" mp4="https://www.sportsmockery.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Kirk-Cousins-Vernon-Davis-Connect-for-a-38-Yard-TD-Vikings-vs.-Redksins-NFL.mp4"][/video] At 33-years old nobody is going to call Vernon Davis their Option A for a tight end solution. However, it was clear last season that he still has some gas in the tank. That old speed and athleticism that made him so dangerous in years past is still there. He caught 44 passes for 583 yards, becoming a surprise focal point in the Washington offense that helped Kirk Cousins reach his first Pro Bowl as a quarterback.