Hunter Renfrow could be a nice fit for Bears |
It's safe to say that this has been one of the most exciting, if not the most exciting, Chicago Bears offseasons in franchise history. Not only did the Bears draft what appears to be a franchise quarterback in Caleb Williams, but they also landed Rome Odunze later in round one to go with Keenan Allen (Trade) and D'Andre Swift (Free Agent) to give the Bears offense a massive facelift.
This has been the area of concern for this team dating back to the Mitch Trubisky days, but with the amount of talent they have now invested on the offensive side of the ball, if a QB can't thrive here, then there is no hope of ever finding one. Not only do the Bears have one of the most improved offenses in the game, but with DJ Moore, Allen, Odunze and several other WRs, some have gone on record to say the Bears have the best overall WR room in the NFL. That is music to the ears of every Bears fan out there, but in a league where offenses are becoming more explosive by the minute, why stop there? You can never have too many offensive weapons, especially when it comes to the WR position. Hunter Renfrow is another free agent on the market who would come for cheap and would be a nice get for this team. Released by the Raiders following the 2023 season, Renfrow has been an excellent No. 2 option for the Raiders, but would be the No. 4 option in Chicago. He wouldn't have to play on the outside like he did in Vegas, but instead could play the slot position as he brings the possession style WR that every team could use. Not to mention, he would also add more veteran leadership to what is otherwise a fairly young group, and the Bears would be sitting pretty for not only this season but the long haul. The 28-year-old Renfrow isn't a name you typically associate with when discussing some of the games better WRs, but there was a time with the Raiders when he was as reliable as they come and made a great pairing with Henry Ruggs before, well you know what happened there. After putting together a few solid years to begin his career, the veteran had a career-best showing in 2021 when he caught 103 passes for 1038 yards and nine TDs. It was the kind of production the Raiders were waiting for, and with Ruggs no longer on the team, Vegas was hoping he could take that next step as a player. Then came the offseason acquisition of Davente Adams, as Renfrow went from the projected No. 1 option back to the No. 2 option in the blink of an eye. He later fell to the No. 3 option, as his last two seasons have been anything but sunshine and roses. He combined for 61 receptions and 585 yards in 2022 and 2023. Those numbers aren't going to cut it in this league, which is why the Raiders released him on March 13 to create some salary relief. Now a free agent looking for a new home, Renfrow is one of those low-cost, high-reward pickups that could work out in any team's favor. Apart from the Bears big three at the WR position, there isn't much production behind them, as Freddie Swain, Tyler Scott, and Velus Joens are the backup WRs right now. Swain hasn't seen consistent production since 2021, while Jones has been next to non-existent in the passing game since debuting in 2022. At the very least, Scott showed some potential last season, but with issues catching the football, how much will he be trusted this season? At the very least, Renfrow is a guy you can count on, as his production will be consistently better than all three combined. Jones and Scott are still raw when it comes to their route-running ability, and they will most often be used as deep threats to stretch the field. Renfrow is a more complete WR who is willing to do what it takes to keep the chains moving. That includes going over the middle to make the play and take the hit, which a lot of WRs don't like doing. When you look at the Patriots' success during their Superbowl runs, they always had that one guy who could move the chains, whether it be Wes Welker, Danny Woodhead, or Julian Edelman. Renfrow isn't on the same level as those guys, but he could be that version for the Bears offense, which is something they haven't had since Bernard Berrian and Johnny Knox. With guys like Tyler Boyd signing for $4.5 million and DJ Chark landing a five-million-dollar deal, Renfrow would be in a similar price range, making it worth the phone call to gauge his interest. The worst he can say is no, but should he be willing to latch on with the Bears, you could make the case that the Bears' top four WRs at that point would be the best in the NFL, and that alone will create an even bigger buzz heading into camp.
