The Chicago Bears are left searching for some answers after falling in Week 3 to the Indianapolis Colts. Offensively, there are several issues at hand, beginning with the offensive line.
Play calling has also been an issue for offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, but personnel also hasn't been at 100 percent health. Wide receiver Keenan Allen is currently dealing with a heel injury. In Allen's absence, it's been D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze as the top two wideouts.
Speaking of Moore, specifically, after he received his extension over the summer, there were rumors of the Bears looking to get Allen's done next. Well, at least Moore thought it was a good idea.
Since then, Allen has yet to sign an extension with the Bears (and we don't even know if it's been talked about internally). He's also been out with this current injury, making room for the breakout of Odunze and putting his future in question.
Allen missed the final four games of the 2023 campaign with a heel injury as well, which should serve as a cautionary warning to all Bears fans going forward. This appears to be a lingering issue, and at the moment, Allen's future in Chicago doesn't exactly look bright.
If Allen ends up one-and-done in Chicago, some might expect Ryan Poles to continue being aggressive in replacing the veteran wide receiver.
In a recent Bleacher Report piece, Chicago was predicted to replace Allen with current Tampa Bay Buccaneers star wide receiver Chris Godwin.
Quietly, Godwin has been enjoying a strong start to the 2024 campaign. The former Pro Bowler has caught 21 of 25 targets for 253 yards and is tied for the league lead with three receiving touchdowns at the moment.
The Buccaneers spent a lot of resources keeping some of their own free agents this past offseason, such as quarterback Baker Mayfield, safety Antoine Winfield and wide receiver Mike Evans. Should Godwin continue this type of play, he very well could play himself into a monstrous contract in 2025 -- one the Bucs would have a hard time matching.
Poles is slated to have over $70 million in cap space next year, per Over the Cap, so making a move like this wouldn't come as a surprise.
Now, fans would surely rather see Poles utilize those funds to rebuild the struggling offensive line first and foremost. Forget adding weapons. If Caleb Williams isn't being protected, none of that matters in the end, as we're. finding out right before our eyes.
Should Godwin hit free agency, he'd be a solid target. But, the Bears better have a plan in place for the trenches before anything else.
