2022 Chicago Bears Free Agency Profile: Wide Receiver Christian Kirk

This offseason, the Chicago Bears have a desperate need at wide receiver. Christian Kirk is a good option to target.

As the NFL inches toward its new league year, Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles finalizes his approach to the offseason. He has the daunting task of rebuilding the team’s roster and turning it into a playoff contender.

Poles already indicated that he’ll prioritize the offensive line to try to protect his franchise quarterback, Justin Fields. He also wants running backs David Montgomery and Khalil Herbert to run through open holes and succeed on the ground.

Keeping Fields upright so he can make big plays is important. Just as important, however, is to furnish him with receivers he could count on to make those big plays.

When the new league year begins on March 16th, the Bears will have only one receiver under contract, Darnell Mooney. They have the option of using the franchise tag on Allen Robinson once again by the March 8th deadline, but that doesn’t seem likely. It appears that the relationship between Robinson and the Bears is broken and not even a new regime can fix it. Also, tagging him would be at an even bigger cost than the $17.5 million they paid in 2021.

That means Poles will be busy trying to fill out the wide receivers unit. He’ll take a deep look at the draft to find young prospects. However, he also needs to go through free agency to find some veterans. Having Mooney and some rookies isn’t a formula for success.

Kirk could really help the Bears

As Poles skims through the free agent receivers list, he should take a look at Christian Kirk.

The Arizona Cardinals are in turmoil. After starting out the season with the best record in the league, they spiraled down. They prepared to take control of the NFC West in Week 11. Instead, they lost and kept losing until they ended up with the fifth seed and a Wild Card berth.

In their Wild Card game, they got crushed 34-11 by their division rivals and future Super Bowl champions, the Los Angeles Rams. After that, quarterback Kyler Murray ignited a fire by scrubbing all mentions of Arizona in his social media accounts. Then there were reports that Murray did not take accountability for the struggles of the season. In addition, he apparently pointed fingers at others.

Kirk becomes an unrestricted free agent when the league year begins. With all the turmoil going on, he might decide to bolt (if he isn’t tagged). He could be a great addition to the Bears’ stable.

In DeAndre Hopkins’ absence, Kirk did a good job of stepping up. Despite losing three of their last four games to end the regular season, Kirk caught 24 of the 33 targets that went his way. Also, he had 264 yards for an 11 yards per catch average. For the season, he had 982 receiving yards.

In his career, he averages 12.3 yards per catch so he gives Fields and the Chicago Bears offense another big-play option to go with Mooney.

Kirk had to play in the shadow of two great receivers. First, he was second fiddle to future Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald. After that, he was behind Hopkins. In Chicago, he’d have an opportunity to become the number one receiver.

Around FPC

NFL: NFL Rumors: Brady/Arians Rift, Robby Anderson, Combine Boycott

NFL: Quarterback Carousel: Who Plays Where In 2022?

NFL DRAFT: NFL Draft Profile: Linebacker Nakobe Dean

NFL DRAFT: 2022 NFL Draft Profile: DE Aidan Hutchinson

NHL: NHL Insights: Tyler Toffoli Trade, Jack Eichel’s Return and Wild West

PODCAST: Full Press NFL Podcast Ep 33: Super Bowl LVI Reaction; Rams Clinch Second Title

This is what Pro Football Network analyst Dalton Miller says about Kirk.

What he brings is becoming increasingly more valuable in the league. With the emergence of match-based zone-coverage schemes, deep over routes from the opposite slot are becoming more prevalent. Those crossing patterns are where Kirk feasts. But he’s no slouch as a route runner, either. He’s improved his footwork over the years and has become more consistent in his ability to gather and drive for separation.

The last part of the statement is very important. One of the problems the Bears’ receiving corps had in 2021 was the inability to create separation. That made it difficult for the quarterbacks to complete some passes. Having Kirk and Mooney with the ability to make big plays will loosen up the defense.

Pairing Kirk with Mooney gives the Bears a good, young duo that could help Fields and the Bears for years to come. Look for Poles to make an attempt at making that happen.