Why signing WR Tyler Lockett makes sense for Bears |
Ariana Pensy
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- 3 hours ago
The legal tampering period in the NFL starts on Mon. March 10, meaning the Bears can begin signing potential free agents at that time. That is also when other teams can contact wide receiver Keenan Allen if Chicago does not bring him back.
It appears Allen will not return for a second team in Chicago, leaving a wide receiver gap. While Rome Odunze could step up into the wide receiver No. 2 role, it would also be a smart move for the Bears to find an inexpensive veteran receiver that Odunze could learn from, that can be a security blanket for quarterback Caleb Williams and open things up for Chicago’s top receiver, D.J. Moore. In other words, the Bears could use an inexpensive version of Keenan Allen. After 10 years with the Seattle Seahawks, the team has elected to release receiver Tyler Lockett. Lockett is smaller than Allen and may not have the numbers Allen does. Still, Lockett is nonetheless a reliable receiver who consistently finds ways to get open and plays all season. Last season, Lockett played in all 17 of Seattle’s games and was on the field for 70 percent of their offensive snaps. He finished the year with 49 receptions for 600 yards and two touchdowns and converted 36 first downs. While all those numbers are less than Keenan Allen’s production last season, that is acceptable for the Be. Odunzenze should have an increased role in Chicago’s offense next season to continue allowing him to develop. Lockett would also be far less expensive than Allen. Last season, Allen had a $23.1 million cap hit. Conversely, Lockett only made $13 million last season. Furthermore, according to Spotrac, when factoring in Lockett’s age, the contracts other wide receivers have received once passing 30 years old, and considering his statistical performance over the past two seasons, signing Lockett would cost approximately $7.7 million. This is something Chicago can afford for a veteran receiver who has been around for 10 years. Cost has become of greater importance since the trades for guards Jonah Jackson and Joe Thuney. Jackson has the fourth-highest cap hit of anyone on Chicago’s roster at $17.5 million. In comparison, the All-Pro Joe Thuney has a cap hit of $16 million, the sixth-highest among players currently on Chicago’s roster. Only two of Chicago’s seven players with a cap hit greater than $10 million—wide receiver D.J. Moore and tight end Cole Kmet—are offensive weapons. Thus, the Bears may have to find less expensive options like Lockett in this area. Signing Lockett does not entirely solve things for the Bears, as they could use some depth at receiver. Therefore, Chicago could also draft a receiver in the late rounds, as many options are available in this draft class. Since the Bears currently have three day-three draft selections, they could easily use one of these on a receiver who could also benefit from playing alongside veterans like Moore and Lockett. All in all, signing Lockett this offseason would make a lot of sense for Chicago. He is a talented, inexpensive receiver who can mentor the receivers, similar to how Keenan Allen was this past season.
