What is Gerald Everett’s upside in Bears offense?

The Chicago Bears signed free-agent tight end Gerald Everett earlier this offseason to upgrade the TE2 position behind Cole Kmet. Everett is a high-upside pass catcher who should produce better results from that spot than Matt Eberflus’ options did in previous seasons. Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams has a wealth of outlets at his disposal.

Last season’s intended TE2 was Robert Tonyan, though he was slightly out-snapped by Marcedes Lewis. Lewis re-signed with the Bears earlier this week. With a better pass catcher like Everett replacing Tonyan, Lewis will be free to focus on blocking duties, which is the highlight of what he offers.

Tonyan played just 28.38% of all Bears’ offensive plays throughout 2023. He produced 11 receptions for 112 receiving yards. Everett, who accumulated 46 catches for 376 yards and three touchdowns with the Los Angeles Chargers last year and has a 500-yard receiving campaign under his belt, possesses a significantly higher ceiling than Tonyan did. It’s also worth acknowledging that the Bears’ passing attack should be significantly more dynamic and productive in 2024.

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With Shane Waldron as the new offensive coordinator, it’s worth analyzing how he utilized his “TE2” with the Seattle Seahawks last season. That player was Colby Parkinson (playing behind Noah Fant). Parkinson played 174 more snaps than Tonyan did in Chicago, accounting for nearly 50% of all Seahawks plays, compared to the 28.38% Tonyan accounted for.

Parkinson totaled 25 catches for 247 yards and two touchdowns. Parkinson saw double the amount of passing-game targets (34 versus 17) that Tonyan did. He was released by the Seahawks at the conclusion of the campaign following Waldron’s departure to Chicago, and Everett has traditionally been a higher-upside player than him.

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One aspect that could hurt Everett’s involvement is how much 11 personnel (three-receiver sets) Waldron is expected to utilize this season. The Bears have an abundance of riches at receiver with D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen, and Rome Odunze on the roster. Kmet will often be the designated lone tight end in those formations.

Then again, Waldron had a similar trio of D.K. Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and rookie first-round pick Jaxon Smith-Njigba in Seattle last season. All three receivers played sizable roles, with Metcalf and Lockett playing nearly 80% of all offensive snaps and Smith-Njigba playing a healthy 64.22% of snaps as the No. 3, according to Pro Football Reference.

Despite consistently utilizing 11 personnel in Seattle, Waldron reserved room to keep Parkinson involved on nearly 50% of all offensive plays. Will he do the same for Everett? The one caveat is that Parkinson is a significantly better blocker than Everett, who will often concede those duties to Lewis. Still, Waldron historically finds creative ways to keep multiple tight ends involved, and that sentiment will extend beyond Kmet in Chicago.

Everett will make a sizable impact on the Bears’ offense this season. He’ll maximize every rep and target thrown his way. Waldron’s usage of the position guarantees it.

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