Crowded Bears WRs Room Could Lead to Surprise Trade, Analyst Says

On paper, the Chicago Bears have one of the better wide receiving groups they’ve had in decades.

With DJ Moore, Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III leading the WRs room, it’s fair to get excited if you’re a Bears fan.

But what if you’re Olamide Zaccheaus? The Bears signed the 28-year-old Zaccheaus to a one-year, $1.5 million contract this offseason, and the assumption was he’d be WR3. But that was before they drafted Burden in the second round.

Sports Illustrated’s Matthew Schmidt thinks that Zaccheaus’s very affordable contract coupled with his emergence last season could make him a surprise trade candidate for the Bears.

SI: There Could Be a Trade Market for Chicago Bears WR Olamide Zaccheaus

GettyCould new Chicago Bears wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus already be a trade candidate?

 

“After the Bears took Luther Burden III in the second round of the NFL draft, things changed,” Schmidt noted. “Suddenly, Zaccheaus went from being Chicago’s clear-cut No. 3 receiver behind D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze to an afterthought. It seems like only a matter of time before Burden passes Zaccheaus on the depth chart, and the Bears are probably already prioritizing the rookie over the 27-year-old veteran.”

Zaccheaus is coming off a career year with the Washington Commanders under coach Dan Quinn. He finished with a career-best 45 catches for 506 yards and three touchdowns, also excelling as a punt returner, netting the NFC’s second-highest average at 10.9 yards per return. Schmidt believes that “based on the year he had last season and his incredibly cheap contract, there should be a market for him.”

“The reps that both Zaccheaus and Burden get in training camp will be very telling, and it would not be the least bit surprising to see the former actually begin the 2025 campaign in another jersey,” Schmidt added.

Over six seasons in the league, Zaccheaus has amassed 149 catches for 1,998 yards and 13 touchdowns. He’s never been a big play guy by any means, but he could certainly draw interest if the Bears were willing to move him. But would they be willing to trade Zaccheaus?

Bears Have Excellent Depth at WR Heading Into 2025

The Bears’ selection of Burden could have significant implications for Zaccheaus’s role on the roster. Burden arrives viewed by many analysts as a potential top‑15 talent—Robert Griffin III called him a top 15 prospect in the entire draft, and Cris Collinsworth compared him to Deebo Samuel. His size, speed and versatility make him a natural fit for Ben Johnson’s offense.

With Moore and Odunze Chicago’s clear top two WRs, Burden is the favorite to be WR3.

If the rookie thrives early, Zaccheaus could find himself pushed to the fourth or even fifth receiver spot. While his craftsmanship and work ethic could make him an intriguing chess piece in sub‑packages, depth chart congestion could limit his snaps.

Teams in search of a dependable WR3 with good hands—like the Cleveland Browns, maybe —  could be potential trade partners.

That said, the Bears have excellent depth in their WRs room right now — a stark change from recent seasons. Burden has also been dealing with a soft tissue injury for much of the offseason, so having Zaccheaus behind him is a nice security blanket for Chicago. Plus, his experience as a returner give him extra added value.

Considering his value, we think it would be a surprise if the Bears traded Zaccheaus, but stranger things have happened.