Should the Bears pursue Buccaneers WR Mike Evans in free agency?

The Chicago Bears are expected to be a power player in NFL free agency again this year. General manager Ryan Poles is armed with the third-most salary cap space in the league (more than $70 million, according to Spotrac), and with several quality veteran free agents projected to hit the open market, the Bears will have a great opportunity to fill some of their roster needs with talented veterans.

One of those roster needs is wide receiver. DJ Moore is the obvious WR1, but a quick glance at the Chicago Bears depth chart reveals a glaring hole behind him. Darnell Mooney will be an unrestricted free agent, and the odds the Bears re-sign him are slim.

That leaves players like Tyler Scott and Velus Jones Jr. as the current WR2 and WR3, that’s not good enough. Not even close.

The Bears have two top-10 picks in the 2024 NFL Draft, the second of which is No. 9 overall. Chicago is a popular destination for wide receivers like Malik Nabers (LSU) and Rome Odunze (Washington) in mock drafts, but that shouldn’t change Poles’ strategy to add a veteran option in free agency.

Enter future Hall of Famer Mike Evans, who, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, won’t receive the franchise tag from the Tampa Bay Buccanneers and will become an unrestricted free agent once the signing spree kicks off.

Due to his 2023 cap number, Buccaneers WR Mike Evans’ projected franchise tag would be $28.4 million – instead of the regular $21.6M – meaning he is not expected to be a tag candidate. https://t.co/0bLVyZZgsm

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 18, 2024

The Chicago Bears will be connected to Evans for several reasons, ranging from his history of incredible production, his ageless style of play, and his physical makeup (he’d give the Bears the size they’re missing to complement DJ Moore).

But would it be wise for Ryan Poles to push his chips all-in on Evans, who will be 31 years old next season?

Yes, Evans has 762 career receptions for 11,680 yards and 94 touchdowns. Yes, he’s a near-lock for a 1,000-yard season in 2024 (he’s never had a year with less than 1,000 yards). And, yes, he’ll be a fantastic red zone threat for whoever is playing quarterback in Chicago in 2024.

But he will be 31 years old.

Signing Evans will make sense if the Bears believe they’re in a championship window. If Poles believes Evans would do for the offense what Montez Sweat did for the defense in 2023, and if he believes that offensive impact would push Chicago into legitimate Super Bowl contention, then, sure, we can ignore his age.

However, I don’t think the Chicago Bears are that close to a championship run. They are getting closer, they are trending as a team that will push for the playoffs in 2024. But if it takes another year (or two, or three) before the Bears are serious contenders? Evans’ best days will be well in his rear-view mirror.

Mike Evans’ advanced age is magnified when considering his likely market value. Spotrac predicts Evans will command a contract that pays nearly $24 million per season. And while that type of investment would make sense for a team like the Baltimore Ravens, who might be an Evans-type receiver away from league supremacy, it would seem foolish for Poles to offer that kind of deal.

Remember: the Chicago Bears must find starters at edge rusher, free safety, and center. The NFL Draft will fill some of those holes, but not all of them. And while it’s true that the Bears have the kind of salary cap space to make a luxury signing like Mike Evans, it just doesn’t seem like a Ryan Poles move.

Instead, there’s a better chance Michael Pittman Jr. (Colts) or Gabe Davis (Bills), both plus-sized receivers just entering their prime, will be in Poles’ crosshairs.