The Chicago Bears just added another veteran wide receiver to the Bears’ roster in Damiere Byrd, which is a smart and self-aware move by general manager Ryan Pace.
The Chicago Bears need help with the wide receiver position ahead of 2021.
The Bears’ signing of Damiere Byrd, 27, is an excellent one. The veteran wide receiver had a breakout season last year with the New England Patriots, catching 47 balls for 604 yards and one touchdown.
Byrd is an excellent route-runner and is efficient at creating space during broken plays. His footwork and agility could use some work but he is a smart player. To recap, alongside Byrd, the Bears wide-receiver room now looks like Allen Robinson, Darnell Mooney, Marquise Goodwin, Anthony Miller, Riley Ridley, and Dazz Newsome as the likely players.
This move may cause cuts to players like Anthony Miller or Riley Ridley off of the roster, considering they have not contributed much in their time in Chicago. The fact that Charles Leno was just released after the Bears took two high-profile linemen from the draft could also help.
Why was the move for Byrd and Goodwin solid for the Bears?
Let’s break down the history of free agency vs. the draft for general manager Ryan Pace’s tenure with the Chicago Bears.
From the draft, the Bears have taken these receivers since 2015 (Pace’s first draft).
- 2015 — Kevin White (first round)
- 2016 — Danny Braverman (seventh round)
- 2018 — Anthony Miller (second round) and Javon Wims (seventh round)
- 2019 — Riley Ridley (fourth round)
- 2020 — Darnell Mooney (fifth round)
- 2021 — Dazz Newsome (sixth round)
See the pattern? Outside of Mooney’s fantastic rookie season with the Bears, Pace’s history of drafting wide receivers is terrible. In fact, his tight end picks are no better. Before the drafting of Cole Kmet in 2020, Pace took Adam Shaheen in the second round of the 2017 draft.
From the free agency, Pace has recruited and signed these receivers to the team.
- 2015 — Eddie Royal
- 2017 — Markus Wheaton
- 2018 — Allen Robinson and Taylor Gabriel
- 2020 — Marquise Goodwin and Damiere Byrd
While Royal and Wheaton could be argued as misses for Pace, the others are great signings. Obviously, Robinson was a big reason that Pace was named executive of the year in 2018. Gabriel combined for over 600 yards and six touchdowns in his two years with the Bears.
