Top Free Agent WR Shouts Out Justin Fields On Twitter

It's that time of year. Free agency is right around the corner. While the NFL may call it tampering, nobody cares. Players, agents, and executives have already begun sending out feelers to gauge interest. The legal tampering period begins on March 13th. One can safely assume the Chicago Bears, with the most cap space of any team in the league, will be active. What nobody knows is who they may or may not target. Much of that hinges on their plans for Justin Fields. GM Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus seem determined to get him help.

That could mean seeking another weapon in the passing game. Injuries and depth issues haunted the wide receiver position in 2022. It's something the Bears have to improve. At least one free agent made his interest in them crystal clear. Two-time Super Bowl champion Mecole Hardman is about to hit free agency after a solid run with the Kansas City Chiefs. He has obvious ties to Poles, who helped draft him while working in their front office. However, Hardman appears more interested in a reunion with Fields.

The two played together for a brief time at Georgia in 2018.

Hardman does fit what Justin Fields does best.

He is undersized but makes up for it with blistering speed—a genuine deep threat. Fields is one of the most accurate deep-throwing quarterbacks in the NFL. They had a nice connection for the short time they were together in college. Putting him on the field with Darnell Mooney and Chase Claypool would certainly give the Bears offense some juice. The problem is price. Initial estimates are he will command around $7.5 million per year. That seems like a lot for a receiver who has never cracked the 700-yard mark in his career.

However, he could make up for it in the return game. Hardman had some success returning punts for the Chiefs. He went to the Pro Bowl as a kick returner in 2019. If the Bears see him as a utility weapon of sorts, then adding him makes sense. If nothing else, he would instantly improve their overall depth and speed. Getting a vote of confidence from Justin Fields would only help his chances of landing in Chicago. Fans will learn more starting next week.