Releasing Taylor Gabriel was unfortunate for the Chicago Bears. It was not surprising. They signed the wide receiver in 2018 in hopes that he could become the Tyreek Hill of Matt Nagy's new offense. That legitimate speed threat on the outside that scared defenses so much they had to play deeper coverages. For a time, Gabriel played that part extremely well delivering some truly big plays on offense.
However, over the course of 2019, his effectiveness began to wane. Then he endured concussion problems. Faced with salary cap issues and questions of his long-term health, the Bears decided to party ways with the receiver after two seasons. While expected, this does create a problem.
Who fills that speed void at the position with him gone. Anthony Miller? Javon Wims? Riley Ridley? None of those guys are known for having that trait in their arsenal. Nor does Allen Robinson. So if the Bears are looking to add that explosiveness, they may have to find it on the open market.
Here are a few names that might fit what they're looking for.
Bears can find a Taylor Gabriel fill-in on the market
Breshad Perriman
The former 1st round pick endured a host of injury setbacks in Baltimore. It looked like his career was over before it began. Thankfully that wasn't the case. He found new life in Tampa Bay where he collected 645 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 17.9 yards per catch. The health concerns are obvious but he's going to be 27 this year and might finally be realizing some of that massive potential he showed at UCF.
Robby Anderson
Anderson has been a consistently overlooked receiver for the past three years despite dealing with some notable quarterback problems with the Jets. Since 2017, he has 2,472 yards with 18 touchdowns. His 15 yards per catch also showcases how dangerous he's been as a deep threat. Like Perriman, he'll be 27-years old this year but with a far better injury history. His one major concern is his hands, having caught just 54.2% of passes thrown his way in his career.
Travis Benjamin
This guy could flat out fly and there's no reason to think he's lost all of that speed. Benjamin averaged 16.7 yards per catch in 2017. Unfortunately, injuries have cost him a total of 15 games between the past two seasons. He's not a full-time receiver who can be a go-to option. He is purely a vertical threat the Bears should be able to utilize in the right situations. The best part is they almost certainly get him cheap at 30-years old.
Randall Cobb
Bears fans should remember vividly how dangerous Cobb can be down the field. Most felt he was done after leaving Green Bay last year. Instead, he showed everybody that he can still be that explosive player with the Dallas Cowboys. Not only did he rack up 828 yards, but did so at 15.1 yards a pop. He's the most experienced of any receiver on this list and also the most proven when it comes to making things happen in big moments. Why not give him a chance to do for them this time around?
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